Ground Mural at the AVAM

The American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore is in the middle of an extended summer to fall ground mural, mostly commemorating the War of 1812 and the writing of the Star Spangled Banner, but told through little known war stories, historical oddities, and cheeky anecdotes. I've been painting since May alongside several others, including mural designer, DC sculptor Lee Wheeler. 

A picture of me starting the USN tattoo segment while my friend Kristin tackles the pub. It's fantastic to work with [fantastic] people and painters.

Originally 500+ feet, this was to wrap around Key Highway and has recently been abbreviated to just the main side of the Museum. The entire piece is "temporary", so see it while you can; projected to last through fall 2014.

Conveniently under the "o say can you see" neons, and some stellar sunflowers.

Little known (and questionably true) war fact: something involving England sending a wheel of impertinent cheese to The White House.

Sometimes you get stuck doing what you start;  a few solo afternoons spent with this bomb laden water, and Uncle Sam above.

Sketchbook Project

The Maryland Federation of Art celebrated their 50th anniversary by putting together a local chapter of the Sketchbook Project (endeavor of Art House Co-op). 100 sketchbooks were on display this summer at The Art Gallery, University of Maryland College Park, before joining the masses in Brooklyn. Mine was there, filled with little fragments and ink.

(Cover [tiny pear with tiny gold leaves, on gloss white])  

("Are you getting enough? [Vitamin A]")

("coffee fox")

(Page 2: "Pear, identical to a new painting of a pear. Except that one looks like this: [arrow]

And then, I agreed to an adventure with an adventurer and a photographer.")

 ("On our way to Centralia, PA in Tucker's green jeep")

They even gave me this odd little sketchbook tattoo!

Gifts for great couples

Making art pieces for friends, whether it's a surprise or a commission, usually leads down a path less traveled. I recently had the chance to come up with a wedding gift, and a first year anniversary gift for four of my lovely friends.

This was the first time I have ever replicated a family crest: Duvall, for the new Grover and Jessica Duvall. 18"x24", colored pencil, ink, and water color pencil with flecks of gold leaf throughout. My reference copy became easier to use when I figured out that up above is a little gryphon(?) and not some type of plume..

An abstract route for Brandon and Jo Wildman (in violet). Acrylic and gold leaf on panel, 18"x14". Cancer meets Sagittarius in a sea of commemorative items from the month of November.

For the homeland, Pro Patria. From the French Mareen Duvall lineage.