FROM JOHNNY CARSON TO BIG BEAR LAKE

The artistic community in the Big Bear Valley is made up of artists with a very diverse background. Victoria Black is one of those artists whose life before Big Bear Lake consisted of modeling in New York, acting classes and being a member of Johnny Carson’s “Mighty Carson Players” on late-night television.

Black began modeling at age 16, as well as appearing in magazine ads. She married, had two children and was unexpectedly widowed with two young children. Changing her focus to acting, Black studied for three years at Warner Bros. Studios, South Coast Actors’ Studio, Director’s Lab and was privately coached by Al Vallette and Maxine Anderson, both respected acting coaches. She appeared in productions at Farrell’s Playhouse in Palm Springs and in television series in the 70’s and 80’s, such as Bob Hope Specials, Marcus Welby, M.D., Rockford Files and The Beverly Hillbillies. She posed for the well-known image of Santa Claus kneeling in adoration before the Child Jesus held by Mary. She notes that unfortunately, there are no royalties for sales of Christmas cards.

Both Black and her husband, Bruce are associated with the Civil Air Patrol, Bruce as a Major and Victoria as a Second Lieutenant. The couple met at the Burbank Airport, when Black noted that Bruce carried an NBC bag, a conversation was initiated and eventually the couple married. Since 2002, they have enjoyed living in Sugarloaf with acreage that borders the Moonridge area.

Black has a Native American heritage as well. Her great-grandfather was a White Mountain Apache and a great-grandmother was Choctaw. Old photos of Native Americans are of particular interest to her as she uses them for her portraits of Indians. Her pencil drawings capture the beauty of lives and stories untold.

She studied art in College after deciding to illustrate her own stories for children when she could not find an illustrator to meet her needs. She began participating in art shows and won awards in the Pasadena Library Art Show, as well as Verdugo Hills Art Association shows. She is featured in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who of American Women, and Who’s Who in the World.

Black has been exhibiting her work in The Gallery, the Arts Council’s fine art Gallery at 40750 Village Drive. She loves working with pencil as it allows working with fine detail. She also enjoys block printing that uses carved images on wood block, once the block is coated with paint the paper is placed on the block so the paint can be transferred to paper. She especially loves to do animals with the Block Prints. Her cards are all originals made from the Block Print technique. She has also participated for several years in the Arts Council’s fine art show, “Art on the Lake,” now in its 12th year.

Visit The Gallery in the Village and enjoy Black’s work. The Gallery is open from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm and is staffed by the artists whose work is on exhibit. If you happen to stop in on a Tuesday, you might meet Black, as Tuesdays are the days Black prefers to staff The Gallery.