Liberty Jail (Wright)

by Godfrey J. Ellis – 16×20 Acrylic Jan 2024

This couple are serving as guides in the “Liberty Jail” museum in Independence, Kansas. He is also one of the authors and reviewers for the Interpreter journal for which I am serving as Associate Editor. He had found this art website and asked if I could paint this for him as a birthday present for his wife.

The challenge with this painting was the harsh lighting, especially on Mrs. Wright’s face. That made it difficult to capture her likeness. If you look at their size, you’ll see that I also made them larger relative to the background jail.

Here is Julia holding her birthday present surprise. Newell said she was very touched by it.

Below are four photos of the painting as it developed.