Seattle Times, Saturday September 8, 2007

By Sherry Grindeland

Brush with Fame

Sammamish, Washington artist Michele Rushworth won a recent gubernatorial race. She doesn't run for election; she competes to paint governors' portraits.

She will paint, in oils, the official state portraits of the three living former governors of Wyoming — James Geringer, Clifford Hansen and Mike Sullivan.

Rushworth's painting of former Nevada Gov. Kenny Guinn was unveiled in March. Former Washington Gov. Gary Locke's was hung last year in Olympia. (Traditionally the official portraits are painted after the governors leave office.)

Not that she needs the work — she just finished two portraits for a former car company CEO and paintings of an oil company and a tobacco company executive. Clients wait about two years to have Rushworth paint their portraits.


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