Departing mayor’s locally drawn portrait joins city’s pantheon

EVERETT — Another face soon will join the rest.

Each of Everett’s mayors is remembered in a series of portraits inside City Hall. They were painted by late Everett artist Bernie Webber.

Now, it’s time for something new.

The city commissioned local illustrator Elizabeth Person, 33, for the portrait for outgoing Mayor Ray Stephanson. He is retiring at the end of the month after 14 years.

Person grew up in Snohomish County and lives in Everett, where she runs her business, Elizabeth Person Art & Design. Her work appears around town, on display and for sale, and her “Sketchy Everett” series is a regular feature in the “Live In Everett” blog. This is her first permanent installation.

“It’s a tremendous honor,” she said.

The ink-and-watercolor portrait took about 25 hours of work, she said. It was unveiled at a farewell party for Stephanson on Tuesday night.

Mayor Ray Stephanson’s official portrait, by local illustrator Elizabeth Person, is displayed at a farewell reception held in the Ed Hansen Conference Center at Xfinity on Tuesday in Everett. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

The directions, from the city’s cultural arts manager, Carol Thomas, were simple, Person said. Keep it 12 inches by 18. Find inspiration in the past. Be true to her own style.

Each portrait features vignettes, or accompanying illustrations for the mayors’ key accomplishments or defining contributions.

For Stephanson, Person settled on seven vignettes, with city input. They include the future commercial terminal at Paine Field airport, WSU Everett and the Safe Streets program, which added social workers to the police department.

Person specializes in maps and other informational art. She does private work as well as commercial, and she is adding book illustration. She also has been recognized for her community involvement. She received a 2016 Mayor’s Arts Award, for her growing role in the local arts and culture scene, Thomas said. She also volunteers on the city’s arts commission.

Person is one of an increasing number of young people who are “energizing Everett,” Thomas said.

For more information about the artist, go to elizabethperson.com.

Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @rikkiking.