Date: Fri 06-Mar-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNO

Quick Words:

Boughton-exhibition-watercolor

Full Text:

Well Into Retirement, An Artist Continues Working

(with photos)

Lucille Boughton, the artist being featured through the end of April with an

exhibition of her art works in the offices of Newtown's First Selectman, has

been painting more feverishly in the 13 years of her retirement than she did

during her lifetime of working as a paid artist. The Danbury resident was paid

for many years to produce black-and-white drawings of models in various

fashions, but it was not until retirement that she was able to spend more time

painting with watercolor, using the vibrant colors that punctuate the works

she creates today.

Watercolors -- anything with color -- are her first love, the artist says. The

generally large-scale landscapes and still life paintings she creates attest

to this fact in volumes.

Mrs Boughton got her start in art years ago, when she was a student at Pratt

Institute in Brooklyn. She graduated as a fashion designer, and pursued a

career in the newspaper illustration business. Mrs Boughton eventually held

employments in the art departments of Gimbels, JC Penney and various Madison

Avenue advertising agencies.

In this capacity, Mrs Boughton was sketching black-and-white drawings of male

and female models in different clothing styles. Her illustrations appeared in

newspapers and advertising publications across the country.

After marrying and moving to Connecticut in 1953, Lucille Boughton began

working for what was then one of the state's best-known department stores,

Skydel's. Mrs Boughton was art director for the Bridgeport-based store. She

was completely focused on the sketches she was being paid to draw, and had

very little time to explore any other art forms in her spare time.

When retirement came in 1985, Mrs Boughton was finally able to delve into the

world of painting with colors. This, she says, is her first love.

Today, she concentrates on the still lifes and landscapes which allow her to

work creatively with color. She also takes classes in Monroe with the local

artist Carol Hubbard.

Mrs Boughton's paintings have been exhibited at Lexington Gardens and the

former Homespun in Newtown. She is a member of the Society of Creative Arts of

Newtown.

Lucille Boughton's paintings may be viewed in the First Selectman's office at

Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main Street/Route 25 in Newtown, through April 30.

Viewing hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.