Norma RGF
(Norma Reznikoff-Goodridge-Furman) 1935-

 

Having painted for over 65 years under the names of her father (Joseph Reznikoff) and subsequently two husbands (Arnold Goodridge and Stash Furman), she has combined the initials. RGF.

 

Norma resides and works in the majestic San Tan Mountains in the Sonoran desert of Arizona Her hi tech home/studio is solar powered and is certainly a long way from her Bronx, New York City beginnings where she was born.

 

At the precocious age of three years old her talent for drawing the figure and catching the likeness of a subject was recognized. Surely the genes of her renowned portrait painter uncle Irving Reznikoff had been passed on. Reznikoff’s work is in the permanent collection of the portrait gallery at the library of congress and the Vatican.

 

Thus began her many subway treks to art classes in Manhattan at the Museum of Modern Art, New York University Art School for Gifted children, High School of Music and Art, Art Students League and the Cooper Union where she graduated in 1955 with a degree in Fine and Graphic Art. There she studied with Robert Gwathmy and learned the importance of understanding anatomy and good figure drawing no matter how abstract the final result seems.

 

After graduation the influence of the 1950’s culture led her from The New York School of abstract art to the suburban kitchen. Painting between diaper changes She self taught herself Albers Optical color theory. Combining that with Photorealism and Pop became natural when she discovered acrylic paint. The photorealist concept inspired her to return to precision drawing of the figure while transposing of the positive/negative color to tune in to her feelings about her subjects.

 

In the 1980’s she sold nearly all of her worldly possessions, replenished her art supplies and bought a motor coach. She headed west with her second husband Stash Furman. Spending time at living history events and earring the name soulcatcher with 100s of portraits of costumed participants that she produced using authentic pre 1840 materials –vine charcoal and rag paper. Reaching Arizona they fell under the spell of the southwest desert, which inspired many acrylics, oils, and pastels of Native Americans, nature studies and landscapes.

Painted under a tent with hummingbirds and bees buzzing around brightly colored brush water.

 

Turning 50, Norma returned to school to continue her lifelong love of education and her interest in retaining her health. She and Stash enrolled in the Physical Education Exercises Science ESPE department at Arizona State University full time. Studying anatomy, osteology and physiology she became the first student to earn a combined Fine Art /Physical Education degree awarded at the university. While at ASU they designed a low impact exercise for adults, Walkaerobics. The success of the program led to gold medals from the president’s council on physical fitness and sports, speaking engagements, videos, audios, books and exercise classes. Although she did the promotional work and illustrations her full time fine art was put on the back burner and her larger painting placed in storage.

 

Now after 26 years of teaching and inspiring students in fitness and survival and while still teaching exercise part time she has finally returned to her art. Having completed her studio looking out over city lights miles away in one of the precious few unspoiled places left she wants to inspire in a different way …through creating art, both with her own work and by conducting art lessons in her desert studio for young artists of any age.