PHOTO COURTESY OF BASIL BAYLIN
Basil Baylin presented his painting of Joan Rivers to her daughter, Melissa Rivers, at Bookends in Ridgewood last month.
JUNE 5, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY EILEEN LA FORGIA
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
“I know she loved the painting,” said artist Basil Baylin. He presented Melissa Rivers a portrait of her mother, Joan Rivers, at a book signing held at Ridgewood’s Bookends last month. Melissa has written a book about her mother eight months after Joan’s tragic, sudden death following an outpatient procedure performed in New York City
Basil Baylin is a well-known portrait artist. His commissions include judges, church hierarchy, college presidents and celebrities. He is a much loved artist/teacher at The Ridgewood Art Institute. His Monday evening classes feature oil painting, portraits, still life and compositions for adults. For the last 20 years his art students have remained faithful.
Last year Baylin was asked by friends he shared with Joan Rivers to paint a portrait of the comedian, celebrity and fashion icon. They are all residents of Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Baylin paints in his studio on the 26th floor overlooking the Manhattan skyline and Central Park.
New Yorkers as well as people coast to coast mourned Joan Rivers’ tragic passing. The newspapers were filled with her image, but for a portrait artist multiple photographs were the only way to go. To prepare for the Joan Rivers portrait Baylin went to the Library of Photos – two blocks from the main library on 42nd Street. Although newspapers featured approximately 100 photos of Joan Rivers while covering her unexpected death, Baylin felt newspaper photos would not have the depth he wanted. He borrowed three or four photos from the library. The photo of a younger Joan Rivers with her hair up captivated Baylin. He said it was the sharpest of the photos.
