Evening star., 1937-11-07

GyEQ SOuIlR WOlildIl dllQ Cap tllSe WllOl6
with wisdom and a well-balanced
perspective of life, you have a rare
combination and something to make
even blase old cinema land wake ur
and rub its eyes. And that l. exactly
what Azadia has done since her arrival
In Southern California a few months
ago to catch on canvas the varying
moods of the stars of Hollywood's
armament.
Every one in Washington knows
A2adia-Azadia Newman, born not SO
long ago in that sun-kissed section OF
Rock Creek Park, where a distant
ancestor, Joshua Pierce, once built the
famous Old Mill standing on tn, banks
of the creek. Acadia, the curly-headed
little daughter of Edwin A. Newman
close friend of Woodrow Wilson and
one-time chairman of the District
Committee, grew up in happy family
OF six children, far removed from such
feshpots as Hollywood, New York or
London, but in less than four short
years she has swept to triumphant
success in each of these hard-boiled
capitals.
What is Azadia's secret of success
Is it her talent-the ability to breathe
life and color and soul upon her
canvases? Is it her own unusual
beauty.-in many cases, lovelier than
the subjects who pose for her? Is it
her perseverance and her love of her
work? Acadia herself modestly SAYS
that she attributes the success she has
found in such short time, to luck.
Doubtless. all these factors have helped
Azadia climb so rapidly up the slippery
ladder of fame. but after visiting her
and chatting with her alone in the
intimacy of her studio I feel that
Azadia's success has been greatly
aided by an unusual amount of plain.
common good sense. She has maraged
in the midst of Hollywood's ceaseless
whlrl of good times to keep her pretty
head very we'll balanced on pair of
strong healthy young shoulders. And
that. as myriads of once successful
young men and women will tell you,
is about as easy as balancing with one
foot on flag pole in storm.
MANY of the ambitious young men
who come to Hollywood, come
alone. Almost always those of the
gentler sex seeking to warm them
selves at the fire of cinema fame arrive
with a companion. mother, a
sister, a brother or friend. Not only
does this companionship offer a super
ficial protection but it insures helping
hand in many hours of need.
Acadia came to Hollywood alone.
She came with that glorious bravado.
that complete assurance of self
sufficiency which has always been the
armor of conquering ~heroes. She
came with her youth, her beauty and
her talents to the one place on earth
where these gifts are most frequently
encountered and where they are so
often wasted and thrown away, sacri-
feed on the altars of selfishness. greed
and overambition.
More than one sensible man and
woman has had his or her head turned
by the adulation of Hollywood. After
nearly year. in which she has painted
the portraits of such well-known screen
personalities as Joan Crawford, Carole
Lombard and Gladys Swarthout and
received commissions to do many
others, including Ginger Rogers, Clau-
dett Colbert. Edward G. Robinson.
Frank Morgan and Dolores Del Rio
Acadia is still holding her own without
assistance. She is enjoying all the
fun and good times which come her
way without wavering from the am
bltlon which brought her here-por-
trait painting on an ever-increasing
scale.
AS I climbed up the steep stone
stairs, which led to Azadia's attractive
home perched precariously on one of
Hollywood's hillsides I wondered about
this young woman was about to meet
Tor the first time. On the street below.
IN front Of the house, stood a smart
new car Of expensive manufacture.
which I knew was one of Azadia's
recent purchases. The house I was
approaching was prosperous and i'm
posing, the surroundings breathed of
comfort and success. And all this
had been gained through the hard
work and perseverance of a young
woman still in her twenties. Nice
work, unused, as awaited thl answer
TO my ring. Well, I thought as the
maid opened the door. I guess it won't
be long before success and prosperity
go to her head, too. Perhaps she
Will join the thousands whose homes
now have "for rent" on the door.
WAITED in the studio for nv
hostess. On an easel nearbv
stood a lifelike portrait of GLADYS
Swarthout, vividly beautiful in a gown
OF red velvet, tiny Florentine cap of
the same material posed on her mass
OF dark brown curls. Not far from
the Swarthout portrait stood another
that of Joan Crawford, posed in a
fascinating gown of cobalt blue.
matching her eyes. On another easel.
close to the wall, stood the portrait
OF Walter Huston, which, with that
OF Vice President Garner's, was among
the first of Azadia's portraits to bring
her professional fame. The strong.
masterful face of the Canadian actor
was portrayed in serious mood.
noticed that practically all of Azadia's
paintings were serious, unsmiling.
AS I reflected on this feature of the
young artists work, Acadia came down
the stairs leading from her living
apartments above. looking like fash
ion plate. After my first, silent gasp
wondered how a woman so young, so
lovely and so worldly could execute the
serious work with which her studio is
filled.
Attired in smart frock of gray,
fur-trimmed duvetyne, fastened at the
throat In large, flowing bow, Acadia
greeted me smilingly. I congratulated
her on her splendid portraiture of
Gladys Swarthout and then COM
mented on the fact that so many of her
famous personalities appeared serious
and pensive, unlike the photographs
which one sees daily in newspapers
and magazines.
"Yes ,,rofor ~ y,o;,,{ ~, r,,h;