Bluehour Studio The Art and Illustration of Debra Styer: New Paintings...The Tiny Show!

I have a couple of new watercolor paintings for the upcoming Tiny Show at Studio Gallery in San Francisco.

In a little ode to my wonderful city of San Francisco, here are the first two illustrations in my new series of "Infamous San Franciscans". I hope you like them.

First up, is Lola Montez (Marie Dolores Eliza Rosanna Gilbert), a young dancer and actress from Ireland, who made herself out to be a famous Spanish dancer and went on the steal men's hearts all over the world. She was even a mistress to a king, and would become Countess of Landsfeld.

Debra Styer, Lola Montez, 2014

Southworth & Hawes, Lola Montez, c. 1850


Lola...Unframed

My second illustrated portrait is Emperor Norton (Joshua Abraham Norton). After moving to San Francisco and losing everything, he gets angered by the rules of the land and declares himself, Emperor of the United States.

At the peremptory request and desire of a large majority of the citizens of these United States, I, Joshua Norton, formerly of Algoa Bay, Cape of Good Hope, and now for the last 9 years and 10 months past of S. F., Cal., declare and proclaim myself Emperor of these U. S.; and in virtue of the authority thereby in me vested, do hereby order and direct the representatives of the different States of the Union to assemble in Musical Hall, of this city, on the 1st day of Feb. next, then and there to make such alterations in the existing laws of the Union as may ameliorate the evils under which the country is laboring, and thereby cause confidence to exist, both at home and abroad, in our stability and integrity.
—NORTON I, Emperor of the United States.

Emperor Norton's reign lasted for 21 years...