Located in Havana’s downtown, D. Arthur McBride Portrait Studio and Art Gallery is home to two portrait artists that display art, commission pieces as well as hold art classes.
Darlene Williams, who paints under the name D. Arthur McBride, has been showing her art in Havana for 24 years and in control of the Portrait Studio for 18. She shares the studio space with her son, Thomas Thomson who has painted professionally for 25 years.
Williams and Thomson’s studio specializes in paint- ing portraits, pieces that are painted of people. Williams believes that por- traits are challenging, but fascinating.
“I’ve always loved por- traits that’s just been my favorite thing because the essence of a person is the most interesting,” Williams said. “I think portraits are more chal- lenging, so I wanted to do something that was a chal- lenge.”
Williams has painted portraits of five Florida Supreme Court Justices – her most recent being Jus- tice C. Allan Lawson. Williams said that she has been happy with being considered and enjoyed her experiences painting the justices.
“[The experience] has been great,” Williams said. “I love it.”
Thomas Thomson’s art is displayed at the D. Arthur McBride gallery and the Southern Expo- sure Art Gallery in Talla- hassee’s Railroad Square.
Williams and Thomson have an upcoming art show in “Spring Into Art” on Apr. 9 in Valdosta, Ga. It will be at the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts. They have sub- mitted two pieces.
D. Arthur McBride Por- trait Studio and Gallery is located on 202 First Street, NW in Havana.
Both Thomson and Williams have their own websites: www.darthurmcbride.com and www.thomastm.deviantart.com
Story by: Chazré Hill