We had the most astounding phone call this past week, followed by a visit from a wonderful lady! The initial conversation went something like this:

Hello?
Is this the Janine from the Handley Herald?
…Yes, it is…
I have your address. I’m coming over. I have some pictures to show you…

Twenty minutes later, in walked a little bit of Fort Worth history. Mauriene Pierce opened her business, Pierce Studio, in 1949. At that time, our part of Fort Worth was still farms and dirt roads. A photographer, Mauriene used find the engaged couples in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, then she’d go to them with samples of her work to get their wedding photography business. She’s photographed the weddings of most of the old names, at least in this part of the city, and their children, and their children’s children. Mauriene also paints gorgeous portraits. Her late husband, Tom, a talented painter, taught her how a number of years ago. Now, she has no less than six of her paintings hanging in public buildings around Fort Worth, including one in the Tarrant County Justice Center. In 1986, after 37 years of photographing weddings, Mauriene began specializing in photo restorations. Not like I do them, digitally, not then, not now! No sirree! Mauriene does them by hand with transparent oils!

Which brings her to me! Mauriene has lived in Handley, Texas since 1969 when she moved from River Oaks. She’s a regular reader of the Handley Herald and has been reading my column. She decided she wanted to get together with me and compare notes, and so we did. Old school and new school. Mauriene had a case full of her work and I grabbed my portfolio, and we proceeded to pour over each others work! What she does is pretty amazing!

What we decided, over the course of the afternoon, is that what we do is similar, yet totally different! I know I, personally, can’t paint to save my life! I can draw, sketch and charcoal all day long, but put a paintbrush in my hands and I’m useless! Especially oils!! Mauriene doesn’t own a computer, never has and, she says, never will! I showed her my tools and she was completely speechless. Doesn’t get it! Like I don’t get how someone can put a brush in paint and paint to photo and restore it! Mauriene is totally fascinated with how digital restoration can bring detail out that’s nearly completely faded away, and I’m fascinated by how her colors and stroke look like the original photo! Our main link, our bond, as it were, however, it portraiture. We both study and know anatomy and the human form. We agree that no restoration artist can be completely successful without that knowledge.

I’m going to visit Mauriene in her studio, next. She has some photos she wants to show me, among which is a little known photo of Quanah Parker. I think I have a lot to learn from Miss Mauriene. 89 years of knowledge, talent, history and coolness all packed in one tiny little body! I can’t wait!

Mauriene Pierce

Tags: Art, Cool People, History, Restoration