A Tribute to American Women Leaders

                            

Eleanor Roosevelt    oil on linen   20 x 16 *

 

 

                       

     "The future belongs  to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams"     Eleanor Roosevelt

Eleanor Roosevelt: diplomat, humanitarian, activist and one of the most beloved and respected women of the 20th Century.

This portrait of Eleanor Roosevelt was featured in the popular Netfix series "The Diplomat."

Women leaders need to be acknowledged! 

 I am inspired to begin a series of oil portraits of exceptional American women.

 These women were and are brave, determined, passionate and visionary...they are leaders!

 Women that come to mind are Eleanor Roosevelt, Harriet Tubman, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Amelia Earhart, Olivia de Havilland, Helen Coley Nauts, Sonia Sotomayor, Rosa Parks, Ida Tarbell, Lucretia Mott, Helen Keller, Frances Perkins, Ida B. Wells, Susan La Flesche Picotte, Susan B. Anthony, Nellie Bly, Clara Barton, Dolores Huerta, Ida B. Wells and Oprah Winfrey and more to come.

Each oil on linen portrait will be carefully composed considering significant details, color, composition and the most relevant time in their lives to be captured on canvas.

 In the past, I had the honor of being commissioned to paint Helen Coley Nauts, an advocate and visionary in the field of early Cancer Immunology and Gloria Steinem, a groundbreaking woman's rights advocate, Catherine Lorillard Wolfe, a major philanthropist and supporter of child welfare, and Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor a champion of equal rights.

                                      

 

With the "Tribute to American Women Leaders" Project, I will begin a series of oil on linen  portraits which will range in size between 14 x 18 inches to 20 x 24 inches.

I will start this exciting project with the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg, "R.B.G" Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, a fierce and dedicated advocate for the advancement of gender equality and women's rights.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg has shaped the course of our nations' history through her convictions and voice for dissent. In 1993 she was the second woman appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg  oil on linen  20 x 16

       

"I would like to be remembered as someone who used whatever talent she had to do her work to the very best of her ability."    Ruth Bader Ginsburg

 

 

Moving forward with my project of portraits of American Women Leaders. 

Delores  Huerta, oil on linen 14 x 18

 

                                   

 Dolores Huerta, Civil Rights Leader

"Yes we can" are the most important words to Dolores Huerta.  Inspired by her mother to become a feminist and a force for social justice, Dolores has devoted her life for workers equality. She co-founded, with Cesar Chavez, the United Farm Workers Association (UFW).  She has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of farm workers thru organizing boycotts and legislation.

"Men their rights and nothing more; Women their rights and nothing less" Susan B. Anthony

 Susan B. Anthony, Americas greatest woman suffragist, was a pioneer crusader for woman's rights and social reform. The 19th Amendment to the constitution, granting the rights for women to vote, became a reality mainly due to her tireless campaigning and efforts.

Rosa Parks, oil on linen,  18 x 14

 

 

 

        "If you don't stand for something you will fall for anything" Rosa Parks

 

 Rosa Parks is considered the "mother of the Civil Rights Movement".  Rosa Parks was an American civil rights activist whose refusal to give up her seat to a white person on a public bus precipitated the 1955-56 Montgomery Bus Boycott in Alabama. Her actions, on the bus, became the spark that ignited the civil rights movement in the United States.
 

Olivia de Havilland, oil on linen 18 x 14

              "One must take what comes with laughter"   Olivia de Havilland

 

Olivia de Havilland, described as "Satin and Steel" was a  2 time Academy Award winner and the last major leading actress of the Golden Age of Hollywood.  Olivia passed away in 2020 at 104 years old. But she was much more that a wonderful, beautiful and versatile actress...she was a fearless and tough. She took on the movie studios when they had complete control over their stars. Backed by the Screen Actors Guild, she took Warner Brothers to court in 1943 when they penalized her for turning down roles. The California Supreme Court ruled in her favor in what is now known as the De Havilland Law. All actors today are indebted to her efforts.

Harriet Tubman   oil on linen  21 x 17

            "Every great dream begins with a dreamer." Harriet Tubman

 

Harriet Tubman,  the "Moses of her people" was an escaped slave, who was courageous and committed to  helping other slaves regain their freedom as a "conductor" on the Underground Railroad. She was never caught and never lost any of her "passengers."  Harriet was also a Union spy, scout, nurse, abolitionist and early supporter of women's suffrage. I chose to portray Harriet as a younger  woman. People usually see an image of her as an old woman...she was only 5 feet tall, but, what that small mighty woman accomplished!

(My portrait of Harriet Tubman was featured in the Netfix series "The Diplomat).

Clara Barton oil on linen 20 x 16

 "I may sometimes be willing to teach for nothing, but if paid at all, I shall never do a man's work for less than a man's pay." Clara Barton

Clara Barton, the "Angel of the battlefield," was the founder of the American Red Cross, teacher, nurse, abolitionist, founder of the National First Aid Association of America and an ardent supporter of women's suffrage.

Amelia Earhart oil on linen 20 x 16 

                    "Adventure is worthwhile in itself."   Amelia Earhart

Amelia Earhart, who has not heard that name since a youth. Amelia personified the American free spirit who was ready to take on all challenges. She was the first Aviation pioneer, a women rights advocate and author. She set aviation record after record, among them the first trans-Atlantic solo flight by a woman, wrote bestselling books about her flying adventures and was responsible for the formation of "The Ninety-Nines" an organization for female pilots. She was also a world-famous celebrity that was friends with the most famous people of the era including Eleanor Roosevelt.

Nellie Bly oil on linen 18 x 14



"If you want to do it, you can do it"  Nellie Bly 

Nelli Bly, born Elizabeth Jane Cochran, and nick named "Pinkie" was a pioneer of investigative journalism. Her courage, determination and innovation was overwhelming! She risked her life to feign lunacy to bring the awareness to the cruelties of Insane Asylums.  She went around the world faster than any person alive at that time, and she owned and operated a factory that was a model of social welfare for her workers.  From her efforts she was able to bring women into the male dominated journalist arena. She had steel blue eyes, was very direct and a tough cookie! 

 I will be adding more original oil portraits honoring American Women leaders in the near future.

 

 

 To learn more about Harriet Tubman and her oil portrait development, visit my blog page:

https://susandurkee.blogspot.com/2021/01/harriet-tubman-moses-of-her-people.html

 

 To learn more about Eleanor Roosevelt and her oil portrait development, visit my blog page: 

https://susandurkee.blogspot.com/2021/01/eleanor-roosevelt-most-beloved-woman-of.html

 

To learn more about Clara Barton and her oil portrait development, visit my blog page:

   https://susandurkee.blogspot.com/2021/01/honoring-with-portraiture-clara-barton.html

 

To see more of my portraiture and larger versions of these portraits please visit my website: www.susandurkee.com

 

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog and learn more about these exceptional women leaders!

* Portrait of Eleanor Roosevelt based on a reference photograph by Lotte Johanna Alexandra Jacobi circa 1944