Latest governor's portrait unveiled at Missouri Capitol

Former Gov. Bob Holden views his newly unveiled portrait Friday in the Capitol Rotunda. Photo by Stephen Brooks.

Saturday, December 10, 2011

How many ties does it take to paint a governor’s portrait? For local artist Carla Malone Steck, the answer is nearly 50.

The portrait of Gov. Bob Holden — wearing a gold tie — was unveiled Friday in the Missouri Capitol.

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“I changed his tie 38 times in one day,” Steck said.

And she painted and repainted the tie itself to get the right fit, color and detail — and to make sure it did not compete with the face.