Vaughan–DuFour Story

In 2016, Rachel DuFour began helping Mary Vaughan build and construct her paintings. Within months she became a valued assistant and friend. They continue to share a strong work ethic and gravitate to the aesthetic spirit of old things.

When Vaughan leaves to go on residency or to her studio in Nebraska, DuFour works on her own art in Vaughan’s studio in Santa Rosa. Occasionally, these two artists team up and have shows together. Magic happens when special pieces become a mix of painting by Vaughan and art construction by DuFour – thus becoming a “Vaughan–DuFour.” They joke that when you say that in a playful German accent, it sounds like the word “von-der-ful.” Both artists agree that the joyful experience of working together on art and ideas is, in fact, wonderful.

DESIGNED BY VAUGHAN | CRAFTED BY DUFOUR

Pacific Gesture | SOLD

63 x 29”
acrylic on wood with antique temple figure and wood parts

Mary Vaughan painting with
vintage construction by Rachel DuFour
2500.

This beautifully-crafted, meditation piece was created by Mary Vaughan and Rachel Dufour together as a duo piece. The ocean painting by Vaughan sets a calming stage for a pacified temple buddha alongside old wood parts that Dufour has framed as a serene panorama. When looking up the term “peace,” the word “pacify” or “pacific” came up, then, the phrase “Pacific Gesture” was used to describe tranquility. It seemed the perfect title for those of us living near this amazing ocean and the calm it can bring.

estuary | SOLD

19 x 55”
Collection of Sutter Health
Santa Rosa, CA

This landscape depicts the quiet marshes of Maine. The rich cool tones of this painting called for this vintage plinth and long blue panel to be added. This unique attachment gives the image a feeling of nostalgia. The simple cut corner angles are also important to the overall composition.

rhapsody in blue | SOLD

47.5 x 22.5”
Collection of Jennifer & Greg Tate
Santa Rosa, CA

This painting of the rocky shorelines of Maine is based on soothing light and air. Collecting, then deconstructing an old 1930’s baby blue crib for its worn wood, a unique frame element came to fruition. The beauty of this combination was not only right in terms of a feeling of time gone by, but when lit properly, the shadows of line on this piece add an aesthetic related to MIssion-style architecture.

weathering heights | SOLD

64 x 36”
Collection of David Vaughan & Martin Stupich
Albuquerque, NM

This tall diptych ( two panels ) of sunflowers gone to seed, takes on a temple-like quality in form and constructional components. A vintage speculating rod in red, black and white patterns, houses the painting with abstracted buildings above and simple shapes below. Old architectural parts come together in a topper that is suggestive of an altar.

eden saw play | SOLD

33 x 101”
Collection of Danyelle Burns
Hastings, NE

This large diptych ( two-part painting ) acts like a garden panorama of fertile earth gone wild. Two small birds are subtle additions on each side of the piece, looking at one another from afar. The title comes from the hymn, Morning has Broken, with intention to represent what God provides in terms of infinite beauty. The framework is made up of many old architectural parts, hand-crafted piece by piece until it was complete and whole. Old French quarter marbles roll along an added shelf at its base; another metaphor to how quickly life rolls by.

VAUGHAN–DUFOUR CREATE TOGETHER

scruff | SOLD

26.5 x 7”
Collection of Florie & Orion Tiscornia
Santa Rosa, CA

Here is a delightful example of how a “Vaughan–DuFour” piece can happen. When a humorous ostrich painting came about within a series of bird heads Vaughan was doing, a little grey door that had been collected, matched the neutral palette. Talking it over, it became important for the door to open. DuFour then built-out a construction that would work with the grey door and the painting. Vaughan then painted an ostrich egg inside, making this a surprise gift for the active viewer.

flurry | SOLD

11 x 14”
acrylic on wood with vintage bird
600.

ditto bay | SOLD

11 x 14”
acrylic on wood with vintage bird
600.

These two pieces of smaller “Vaughan–DuFour” combination are one-part painting and one-part assemblage. DuFour takes old, wooden garden parrots and constructs them on a perch within hand-made boxes then attaches them to the painting. Carrom rings add a playful bit of color alongside each bird, matching the paint palette. In this work, abstract land paintings by Vaughan are enhanced with vintage accompaniment by DuFour.

divine abode | SOLD

25.5 x 59”
Collection of Karen Smith
Santa Rosa, CA

When a pair of old camper window panels from the 1930’s landed in DuFour’s hands, excitement bloomed between friends, trying to figure out how to incorporate them into a painting. Here is a Northern California landscape or “Vaughan–DuFour” outcome. The beauty of this construction is that it led Vaughan to paint a version of California poppy as its main focus, but to also paint macro-lense versions of the wildflower in DuFour’s side panels. This exercise of focus variation led her to do this time and again in future work. Team creativity that can agree aesthetically on composition is a gift, if not a rare source of experiment and learning.