VOA标准英语2013--Artists Find Niche Capturing Events as They Unfold

 

Artists Find Niche¹ Capturing Events as They Unfold

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND — Wedding, birthdays and other celebrations are usually captured in photographs. However, a small but growing number of artists are capturing these events on canvas², right as they happen.

Gina D’Anna and Donald Anderson Jr's first dance at their wedding reception near Baltimore, Maryland, was memorable³, but while their guests cheered, Patricia Bennett sat in a distant corner of the room, carefully adding the dance to her canvas. She is a live event artist, who captures the special day as it unfolds.

 “I try to focus on what I think is important to the group or the individual who is commissioning it. For weddings, a lot of times, it is the cake, the dance,” said Bennett.

Bennett used to paint portraits and nature. Her first live event painting was her grandmother’s 97th birthday party last year. That party ended up becoming a turning point in her career.

"I especially love live event painting because I love to paint people, and I love to paint beautiful things. And I like to paint happiness and things that are happening,” explained Bennett.

Bennett usually starts painting the background a few hours before the event. As guests arrive, she adds them and other activities to the foreground.

"What I hope to be captured is just the emotion that is going on this evening. There is bunch of happiness with friends and family here this evening," said D’Anna, the bride in the wedding Bennett was painting.

Of course, not every guest can make it into the painting. So Anna Hergenroeder, a groom’s relative, was surprised to find herself in the canvas.

“I feel very important. I am a 94-year-old woman. I don’t know why I am in the painting but I am excited to be in there,” said Hergenroeder.

Bennett doesn’t mind doing a little touch-up for image improvement.

“I don’t call it fictionalized. It is more like if sometimes the wife comes over to me and says, can you give him some more hair?  Then I add more hair in," said Bennett.

Bennett charges $1500 for an event painting.

“I think more and more artists are starting to do it because it is really fun. And it is useful. It is a useful service,” said Bennett.

By the time the event ends, the painting is complete. Bennett takes it home to make any final touches, then signs and delivers it.  D’Anna was thrilled with the final product.

"Oh my goodness, beautiful. It is absolutely gorgeous… It came out better than I expected. And I think it definitely evokes⁵ a lot of emotion and people can find themselves in the painting, which is really exciting as well. Also, when we have children one day, it is going to be something we can share with them,” said D’Anna.

"A wedding, compared to the rest of the universe, maybe it is not super important. But to the couple it is very important. I like capturing, feel like I am capturing history when I am painting,” said Bennett.

Bennett says she is almost fully⁴ booked for events next spring and fall, and bookings for 2015 are already coming in. 

1 niche   

n.壁龛；合适的职务(环境、位置等)

参考例句：

• Madeleine placed it carefully in the rocky niche. 玛德琳小心翼翼地把它放在岩石壁龛里。
• The really talented among women would always make their own niche.妇女中真正有才能的人总是各得其所。

2 canvas   

n.粗帆布，一块油画布

参考例句：

• The times that people used canvas boat have become history.人们用帆船的时代已成为历史。
• Smith painted an oil painting on the canvas.史密斯在画布上画了一幅油画。

3 memorable   

adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的

参考例句：

• This was indeed the most memorable day of my life.这的确是我一生中最值得怀念的日子。
• The veteran soldier has fought many memorable battles.这个老兵参加过许多难忘的战斗。

4 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

5 evokes   

产生，引起，唤起( evoke的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The film evokes chilling reminders of the war. 这部电影使人们回忆起战争的可怕场景。
• Each type evokes antibodies which protect against the homologous. 每一种类型都能产生抗同种病毒的抗体。