Above is a detail from one of the 2 screens I painted. We wanted to evoke Candye's personal space, her boudoir.
The four panels hang from the lobby ceiling as a narrative lead-in to the amazing, the unbelievable, the Toughest Girl Alive!
In the Theatre,
along the walls, 4 portraits of Candye were hung.
Her most powerful image is singing her lungs out into the microphone on stage.
Candye is a beautiful woman, so it is a challenge to paint her while still showing her power, her balance of strength and beauty. To me, this is the truest portrait of Candye as the Toughest Girl Alive, singing her way into a better life.
Candye has portrayed herself as a boxer. And she has spoken out on behalf of women many times. In this portrait of the Toughest Girl Alive, I show her standing on a soap box with a megaphone at the ready while she warms up to do battle over injustice.
Candye's most recent CD has her as a Super Hero which is a great image for the Toughest Girl Alive. Wonder Woman the iconic avenger is powerful but still feminine, exactly like Candye is. I have a history of painting women of generous size, and I feel it's good to be proud of your body as Candye will tell you.
Perhaps her greatest power is in captivating audiences.
Candye transforms her life with her music and her personal strength.
She inspires us as an artist, a woman, and the Toughest Girl Alive.