| Copyright 2008 Living Letters Studio, Inc. |
| About Riva |
| Riva Brown is a native of Wilmington, Delaware. She received her education in the Wilmington Public School system, graduating from P.S. DuPont High School in 1971. Following that, she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Art at the University of Delaware in 1975, with a minor in Art History. Working full-time as a calligrapher, illustrator and watercolorist, her work is highly respected and sought after in the commercial field. Her client list includes such names as Longwood Gardens, the Delaware Nature Society, the State of Delaware, the Supreme Court of Delaware, American Life Insurance Company, Maryland Bank (MBNA), and Connectiv Power. She was a founding member and past-President of the Delaware Calligraphy Guild, and has also served on the Board of Directors on the Delaware Foundation for the Visual Arts, DFVA. Riva was awarded an Individual Artist Fellowship in Folk Art in 1994 by the State of Delaware for her work as a Ketubah (Jewish marriage contract) artist, and is considered a "State Treasure". She has been called upon to present cultural programming in the Delaware public school system in her capacity as "Folk Artist" and creator of ritual documents. In the Fall of 1996 she was juried into the Council of Delaware Artists. Riva exhibits frequently in local art shows and galleries, such as "Best of Delaware", the Ronald McDonald House "ArtFest", "Evening of Art", Immaculata College, and many of the DFVA art exhibitions. Her art gallery affiliations have included Hardcastle’s in Centreville, Delaware, Obelyn in Annapolis, Maryland, the Framehouse Gallery in Lewes, Delaware, the Barnstone Gallery in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, and the Talleyville Frame Shop and Gallery. |
| About Scarlet the Nom d' Brush of Riva Brown Dynamic and energetic, the paintings of Scarlet are an affirmation of life and movement. Rooted in the cosmic beginnings of the universe, the women dance all life into being. Stomp, hold, absorb, leap, merge and interact |
| All images Copyright Living Letters Studio, Inc. |
| Like Athena, Scarlet emerged fully formed from the conjunction of palette and brush one day when no one was looking too critically. Scarlet paints joyous, energetic, dancey women. She paints calligraphic florals and an occasional abstract. And she paints with strong color. Scarlet likes to hang out with dancers and sketch them while they dance, and has amassed huge piles of gestural drawings that remind one of Chinese calligraphy. Scarlet is young and impetuous and is still evolving, and you never quite know what she is liable to do. |
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| About Bill |
| Bill Brown, Riva's husband of 33 years and business partner for 17 years completed his High School education in Wilmington, Delaware, graduating from John Dickinson High School in 1965. After serving in the United States Navy, he attended the University of Delaware, where he met and married Riva. He received a Bachelor or Arts degree in Art History with a concentration in Archeology, graduating with Riva in 1975. He began his career in the graphics industry working for Cann/Erickson, a local bindery that manufactures 3 ring notebooks and sales kits. He left Cann/Erickson in 1987 as Supervisor of the graphics department with a working knowledge of camera work, layout, silk screening and hot stamping to join Riva at Living Letters, which they incorporated in 1988. Bill brought to Living Letters his expertise in design and attention to detail. He serves as the CFO, machine calligraphy operator (Inscribe©), picture framer, and collaborates with Riva on many of her projects. Bill is also a Notary Public. |
