People talk 7/17/03

Artist paints dignified image of Ventura

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Surprising but not shocking.

That's how the artist who painted former Gov. Jesse Ventura's official Capitol portrait describes the much-anticipated work.

"This is a dignified, loving portrait of a statesman," said Steven Cepello, aka Steve Strong, aka the California Terminator. A tag-team partner of Ventura's in the late 1970s, Cepello was smearing paint on canvas in his spare time, even as he did the same to opponents in the ring.

The portrait contains some references to Ventura's wrestling career, his marriage and family, and his time as a Navy frogman. But Cepello didn't detail which aspects of Ventura are portrayed in what way.

"It is outdoors because Jesse loves the outdoors," said the Los Angles-based artist. "His instruction to me was, 'Just do a dignified portrait of me."'

That might mean he's not wearing a stuffy suit and tie, but Cepello assured: "He is not on a diving board, no sleeves are ripped out and he's not in a pink boa."

Although the painting has arrived at the Minnesota Historical Society, it's hidden in storage until its fall unveiling.

The 36-by-48-inch portrait has a gilt, hand-carved frame, which marries nearly perfectly to the painting, Cepello said. It's a three-quarter pose.

Actress to help couples with interior design

LOS ANGELES -- Being married to Harry Hamlin means Lisa Rinna never needs to hire a decorator.

"He thinks he's like the designer of the century and he is, he's really good," the 38-year-old actress told the Television Critics Association recently.

"I've had to fight my whole entire relationship with him to bring a picture frame into the house," she said. "My husband lets me do nothing at our house."

So Rinna, who starred on the TV series "Melrose Place" and "Days of Our Lives," decided to let her inner designer out by hosting a new Lifetime series called "Merge." She'll help newly married couples combine their individual belongings into one household in the one-hour show, set to debut in September.

"I get to be heard on this show and I don't get to be heard at home," she said. However, Rinna said there's almost nothing she would get rid of at her own home.

Hamlin and Rinna, who married in 1997, have two daughters, Delilah and Amelia. Hamlin, 51, has children from previous marriages.

-- From wire reports