More about Estelle

Estelle Levin Tuvman, born April 5, 1927, grew up in and lived near Forest Park, a Victorian Garden district, in Springfield, Massachusetts, a picturesque serene park and zoo that covers 735 acres of undeveloped land with plants, flowers, a large lake with various waterfowl. As a young girl, her father would take her for walks through the park and zoo. The first curator of the zoo was Theodor Robert Geisel, the father of the famous children’s author, Dr. Seuss. 

Her parents Ben and Eva Levin emigrated from Lithuania after World War I and settled in Springfield. Both had high standards and instilled culture and art appreciation at an early age both for Estelle and her younger sister Natalie. 

Estelle took piano lessons and after graduating high school, was sent to art school in Connecticut. Although this was during the depression, her parents scrimped and saved to make sure the children got a good education and exposure to arts and culture. 

During World War II, Estelle was employed by Forbes and Wallace, a large department store, with several locations in the Springfield and New York State. Estelle worked in the graphics department and was taught to draw dresses, lingerie, and various fashion accessories for the weekly newspaper ads.

She was exposed to the artists who flourished under President Roosevelts Federal Art Project, a sub-group of the WPA. Some of the artists included, Mark Rothko, Jackson Pollock, and Willem de Kooning. 

After the war, Estelle married Bernard Tuvman, also from Springfield. They both relocated to Los Angeles in 1950 and had two boys. Estelle took a break from work to raise a family. She later enrolled in a community college and eventually earned a Masters Degree in public health. She put her interest in art aside and worked for 25 years as a health administrator.

After retiring at 65, she began painting again and enrolled in many art classes and workshops to paint still objects and live models. She continued painting until her death at age 97. 

Estelle evolved into a highly versatile visual storyteller, who masterfully balanced watercolor, oil paint, and collage. In addition, she regularly attended and participated in art exhibitions and was inspired by women artists like Helen Frankenthaler, Lee Krasner, and Elaine de Kooning.