Favorite Things: Beatles collector Viki Spector and her oil painting of Paul McCartney

This is an original oil on wood from an artist in the UK. It was created probably 20 some years ago. I used to do a lot of buying on eBay and antique stores. I like the original art pieces.

This one almost looks like it is a photograph. I do have other original pieces, but this one takes the cake.

It could be based on him 20 years ago. His shirt is very casual. You know he even stopped coloring his hair recently? That’s something between just him and me.

I could just tell it was gorgeous from seeing it on eBay. Some paintings you can look at and know instantly they are going to talk to you. You can see his jaw here and just see it start moving. I hope the wedding ring is when he was married to Linda and not what’s-her-name.

I drove my parents crazy collecting when I was 11 years old in 1963. When I was 12 or 13, I did a lot of babysitting, which gave me more money to collect. I can’t do something where I am in second place. I start to get carried away.

My longtime friends say it trickles down to me decorating too. I know I’m weird. I know I’m different.

In my professional life, I ended up working a career in politics. I was already a hippy in high school, but I did the state exam and aced it so I had a job waiting for me and took it.

When this painting came, I gasped when it came out of the box. It was already framed when I got it. I like to keep my receipts and correspondence from the artist. My dad, who collected classic cars, taught me to do that. She wanted to let me know she did one just like this of John Lennon and gave it to Yoko.

That was like “Wow.” But I honestly have no respect for Yoko. I do have a lot of respect for artists. This to me is just beautiful. Prints are one thing and original items are another. That to me just captures it.

I worked at an art gallery for five years and it helped me find more value of art too.

I haven’t bought anything Beatles related for years. I’m at the point in my life that other than groceries, I don’t need anything else.

(This interview was edited and condensed by Dennis Burck. To visit the Spector Beatles collection, arrange a tour time at 517-648-2043. If you have a recommendation for “Favorite Things,” please email dennis@lansingcitypulse.com.)