Egeli Illustrates and Paints “The Liar’s Bench”
Carolyn Egeli is once again at it with her newest painting “The Liars Bench” which was a true work of love by the artist. With this painting Ms. Egeli’s client was able to give her the opportunity to spread her wings and get back to her roots from art school: illustration.
Though illustration was her major in art school at the time this was not considered “real art” and there was a demand for portrait artists in the South where she was living in her early twenties. From there she was swept up in the world of portrait painting for some of the best families below the Mason Dixon line. After Ms. Egeli returned to Southern Maryland, she continued to be a renowned portrait painter and rarely used her training as an illustrator until this most recent commission.
“The Liar’s Bench” is a painting that was commissioned by George Webb for his home on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. To do research for this painting Ms. Egeli visited watermen haunts of the Eastern Shore in the wee hours of morning before the men would head out to work.
The trouble was finding the particular setting she was imagining for this scene. Potbelly stoves with glowing embers are not found in many country stores without the harsh glow of fluorescent light coming from above. To this Mr. Webb responded, “Make it up!” and that is exactly what she proceeded to do.
With this the floodgates opened and she was able to become a storyteller through the painting.
“I’ve found such joy in the excitement of creating this cozy, watermen meeting place. I’ve been able to use illustration for the first time in a long while. I have come through this painting re-opened to other painting adventures that tap into my love and power as an illustrator,” she said.
