El Dorado artist Mary Binford Miller had the opportunity to show off her skills during the Wichita Garden Show.
“They’re trying to highlight the arts,” she said. “They’re doing things like having plein air painting at the garden show and there’s also an invitational setup on the stage with flower arrangements.”
As part of that, they asked her to do a live demonstration on one day of the show.
“They knew that I have done portrait painting for a long time, so they just called me and asked me if I would be interested in painting a local celebrity,” Binford Miller said. “They didn’t say who at first.
“I said sure I would be glad to do it.”
They told her Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer had agreed to model for two hours.
“And the rest is history,” she said.
In addition to painting the portrait, Binford Miller also go to know Brewer a little.
“I just enjoyed the opportunity to get to know him,” she said. “He is a delightful man.”
She is working to finish the portrait and plans to give it to Brewer once it is completed.
