Christine Rosamond facts for kids

Christine Rosamond (born October 24, 1947 – died March 26, 1994) was an American artist. She became famous using her middle name, Rosamond. She was known for her beautiful paintings, watercolors, etchings, and lithographs.

Rosamond is especially known for her unique use of negative space. This is the empty area around and between the main subjects in her pictures. Many of her artworks also featured women. Some of her most famous pieces include "Blue Ice", "Autumn", and "Denim and Silk." At one point, her art sold millions of copies around the world. In the early 1970s, it was very unusual for a woman to become so well-known in the art world.

Early Life and Art Beginnings

Rosamond was born Christine Rosamond Presco in Vallejo, California, on October 24, 1947. Her parents were Victor and Rosemary Presco. She was one of four children. Her brother, John, was also an artist. His artwork was chosen to tour the world in a Red Cross show when he was young.

Rosamond started creating art in 1972. She wanted to support herself and her young daughter, Shannon Rosamond.

Starting Her Art Career

Rosamond learned a lot about art and galleries by visiting art walks in Los Angeles. Her partner at the time, Scott Hale, encouraged her to show her paintings. She displayed them at the 1972 Westwood Art Fair.

A famous person, Priscilla Presley, bought one of Rosamond's paintings. This caught the eye of a gallery owner named Ira Cohen. Ira bought all of Rosamond's work. He also asked her to create a new painting every week. This was a challenging task for a single mother. Rosamond used images from fashion magazines to help her create new works quickly. Her great talent, along with the changing times for women in the 1970s, helped her art become very popular. Rosamond's paintings and prints sold millions worldwide. Owning a Rosamond print became a symbol of wealth and good taste.

Becoming a Famous Artist

Even though Rosamond was very successful with Ira Cohen, she felt her art was not being valued enough. She wanted her work to be seen as fine art in galleries, not just on posters. So, she started working with Jack Solomon, who owned Circle Gallery in San Francisco. Solomon helped artists create lithographs, which are a type of print.

In this new environment, Rosamond's art was truly celebrated. She quickly became even more famous. For a short time, she was known as "the most published artist in the world." She continued to paint and release her images as lithographs through her own company. This helped her keep artistic control over her work. Rosamond even spent four months in Paris. There, she created new lithographs with the famous Atelier Mourlot studio.

Rosamond was married twice. Her second husband was Garth Benton.

Her Death

Rosamond passed away on March 26, 1994, at the age of 46. This was just weeks after her last art show. She was staying at a home near Rocky Point in California. Rosamond, her sister Vicki Presco, her son Shamus Dundon, and her daughter Drew Benton were getting ready for a party. Rosamond ended up in the ocean, and how this happened remains a mystery.