Serpentine

Another Alaska study, this one from a view of Serpentine Glacier across the fiord from Toboggan Beach. Gouache, about 3"x6".

View Point

View Point, gouache on paper, 4"x6"

Painting at View Point

Sometimes this blog seems like a patchwork quilt, with lots of loose threads to tie up (ok, mixed metaphors, but knit together well, don't you think?). This is one of them, the finished version of a little study I started while perched on a rock at View Point, in Prince William Sound, Alaska.

Little dents and biodiversity

Nothing like another torn menicus to give you some time to catch up. This minor knee surgery could well become an annual event, since I had the exact same thing in my right knee at this time last year. But as luck would have it, I only have two knees, so that nips that tradition in the bud.

Coincidentally, my truck also went into the shop this week for a left knee problem, thanks to someone (and you know who you are)  pulling a nice parking lot hit and run on me. So I'm housebound on two levels, but it's a beautiful day, the windows and doors are open, and it sometimes seems I hardly ever get to be here, so Home, it's nice to meet you!

At any event, I'm on day two of post-op, sitting elevated leg on pillow, laptop on lap. Catching up, firstly, on planning the Bioblitz Art Exhibit.

That's right, another Bioblitz has come and gone, on beautiful farmland on the island of Jamestown. This year I partnered with Katy Dika from the RISD Nature Lab to head the Art Team. Next year, due to her planning, access to equipment, knowledge and enthusiasm making me look like a complete amateur in contrast, I happily entrust the future Bioblitz Art Team leadership to the competent hands of Katy and the RISD Nature Lab, which they have graciously accepted.

But I am still planning the art exhibit, which will be at the Warwick Museum of Art during the month of July and which will include work inspired by the bioblitz and work from artists who have been Artists in Residence in our National Parks and Forests. I'll have some work in the show, naturally, and will give a talk about the Artist in Residence Program on July 16.

I also have some shows upcoming...

 

September 2012 at the Hale House of my Artist-in-Residence work, including new paintings from The Chugach National Forest, Alaska, and the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert in Arizona.

A group show "The Architectural Treasures of Providence" September 4-28, at URI extension in downtown Providence. I'll be showing some church paintings.

And two shows in 2013, one in Newport at the Deblois Gallery, the other at Bert Gallery.

Until then, I'll take my ice pack and the book I'm reading, "The Pre-Raphaelite Sisterhood", to the porch and enjoy my downtime!

Petrified pictures

Thought I'd post my finished studies (isn't that a contradiction?) of my Petrified Forest residency, to give you some pretty pictures to look at while I work on my next blog post.

From the Blue Mesa Trail o/c

Drainage o/c

Flattop

Below the PDI

Painted Desert/Petrified Forest Video

Lately I've been blitzed by the bio,  (the 2012 Bioblitz Art Team), but I've packed up my tent and am back to camping in coffee shops, so promise to update this blog soon. In the meantime, John has published a great video of our Petrified Forest trip!

Painted Desert Trip from John DeVault on Vimeo.

They don't make them like they used to — the Blaisdell 623-T

 

I have lots to blog about, upcoming shows, the 2012 Bioblitz, my Petrified Forest residency, etc., etc.  But tonight I am just obsessed with this pencil. It was part of the "inheritance" I was lucky to receive from the estate of Louise Marianetti. The materials she used were not only cool in their vintage-ness, but of the highest quality. She respected and demanded a lot of her tools and her work was of a quality which made them shine. 

Among the many pencils, pens and brushes I was given were two of these Blaisdell 623-T hard charcoal pencils. They put any other charcoal pencils you can buy to shame. Smooth, rich, even, hard without being scratchy — a pleasure to use, and now I'm spoiled. I want to use it, but I don't want to use it up! I need more. So I did what anyone with a quest does these days,  I googled it. And all I came up with was someone's post from 2006 beginning "I would like to note that I am willing to pay outlandish prices for the aquisition of Blaisdell Charcoal Pencil Hard 634T model charcoal pencils."

So it was confirmed. This pencil is special. If anyone should happen to know where to get more, I'd be interested, though not sure how "outlandish" a price I could afford. And if anyone thinks they have a competitor, let me know, I'll give it a shot!