413 Distinctive Art

Don Blanton, a freelance artist, sculptor,and poet, is a native of Richmond, Indiana. After completing his tour of duty in Vietnam, Don settled in Springfield,MA. He studied at the Merrick School of Art and Drama, Los Angeles CA. from 1974 to 1976. Upon completion of his schooling, he returned to Springfield Mass the location of his cuerent Distinctive Art Studio. Don’s versatility is expressed through a variety of medium: paintings, sculpting,and designing Wearable Art. a very distinctive hand crafted jewelry. While his carving is done in wood, stone,and other natural products, his wearable art encompasses a variety of medium embellished with sculpture, featherstone, and precious gems.

an imoortant part of Don’s agenda is teaching and sharing his versatility with others by coordinating programs for private and public schools, retirement communities, hospital environments, and youth enrichment programs.He also offers private instructionto children and adults in his studio. Don is an active member of the Springfield Cultural Council and was on the teaching faculy at the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum. Don demonstrates and lectures at area schools, colleges and univerities and has lectured at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA. where he presented a workshop on the “visual Arts” . His work has been exibited around the country, his murals are as far reaching as Los Angeles CA.

Recently Don was invited to be guest speaker at the dedication of the Elizabeth Freeman Center in the Berkshires wher his natioally renowned sculpture. the “The Auction Block” provided the background for the renaming of this woman’s crisi center in honor of Elizabeth Freeman. Ms. Freeman, better known as “Mum Bett, was aslave who successfully fought to win her freedom in the early 1800’s. Another feature of Don’s work is his, “FEATERSTONE COLLECTION”. This special collection which features a very unique composition of design, shape, color, and texture, was created by Don after many years of research. It’s a technique that gives the appearance of stained glass or marble when coated onto natural products such as wood,stone,or coconut shell. Don’s work in stone entitled “Guarded Emergence” and “Roar of Silence” were featured in the “INTERNATIONAL ART WORLD NEWS MAGAZINE” accompanied by an editorial announcing his newly published “WORKS IN STONE” Don has been recognized by the House of Representatives in Washington DC.for his judging of the Congressional Arts Competition, a duty his will assume again.