Lucie Olivas

BIOGRAPHICAL DATA

Born on June 30, 1962 in Alamosa, Colorado Lucy Ruybal graduated from Alamosa High School in 1980 and attended Trinidad State Junior College, Alamosa Campus in 1994 where she obtained an Administrative Assistant Certificate. She is married to Geronimo Olivas and has four children: Natalia, Tomas, Andres, and Marisa. She is the Administrative Assistant/ Bookkeeper for Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Alamosa Colorado.

GENERAL BACKGROUND

Lucie started making santos in 1994. She was encouraged by her husband to paint retablos as she's always had a talent for arts and crafts. She enjoys making retablos and continues to pursue achieving her own distinctive style. Lucie attributes her strong Catholic faith and her family's involvement with the morada in Lobatos Colorado as her source of inspiration devotion, and knowledge

ARTISTIC BACKGROUND

Lucie continues to improve in mastering modeling of the human anatomy and delineating space in her retablos. She includes many still life drawings of furniture, animals, lights,and shades as part of the backdrop for her images of saints. She and her children have accompanied her husband, Geronimo, in many art shows. Santero, Rubel Jaramillo, and her husband, Geronimo, have provided much inspiration for Lucie to create her own work. She likes to research images and their significant attributes. She credits her love of art to her mother, Lucinda, who creates many beautiful artifacts by sewing colchas, embroidery, and quilting.

SUBJECTS AND SOURCES

Lucie’s retablos are influenced by images from prayer cards. Her favorite images include saints who are important in her life and family's household, among them theInfant of Prague and the Holy Family.

MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES

Lucy uses store bought gesso and recycles old boards when making her retablos. She uses acrylic paints and commercial varnish in her works. Many of her works are a collaboration with her husband Geronimo who often cuts and sands the boards prior to Lucie's gesso, painting, and varnishing of the images.

ARTISTIC RECOGNITION

Lucy made a retablo of the Infant of Prague which became part of the Regis Chapel Altarscreen in Dayton Memorial Library.