The Art of R. Geoffrey Blackburn



R. Geoffrey Blackburn Canyon Jewel oil painting

"Canyon Jewel"

Oil on Linen

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Description Size Price
Oil on Linen
50 x 38 in  (127 x 96.5 cm) Sold
Serigraph (47 colors) *38 x 31 in  (96.5 x 78.7 cm) inquire
Serigraph   38 x 31 in  (96.5 x 78.7 cm) inquire
*refers to image size—paper size= 50 x 38 in.  (127 x 96.5 cm)

Contact: rgeoffrey@rgeoffrey.com

 

The "Canyon Jewel" Story

Original Oil Painting, 1982 – Serigraph published 1984

The original painting was created in my basement studio over eight months, from 1981 to 1982. It took 852 hours to paint.  I can be precise about the time because I had an actual punch-in time clock to help me track my hours.

The location of my studio is significant because my studio had a low ceiling and the canvas was 50 inches tall so the painting sitting on the easel barely missed the ceiling. Consequently, I could not stand when I painted but rather, had to sit flat on my cold basement floor and wrap my legs around the easel to work on the bottom section of the painting. You can imagine the massive discomfort and pain associated with such an operation, especially over the protracted 800-plus hours of artistic self-flagellation.  The result was worth it, agony and all…

When I finally finished the painting, I took it to the LDS Museum to see if there was any interest in purchasing it. As it turned out, there was substantial interest due to its historical significance related to the Mormon Pioneers and the epic “Hole-in-the-Rock Road” expedition of 1879. Naturally, the museum wanted me to donate the painting. However, being a chronically underfunded artist who had to pay rent and buy food, donation was not a viable option for me. I had asked for $60,000 for the painting. The museum committee had me wait in the anteroom for some 45 minutes while they debated the merits of such a purchase. Eventually, an Elder and museum official came out and apologized to me saying that the museum really wanted the piece but, if they paid my asking price, that would use up their entire acquisition budget for the year so regretfully, they had to decline. So, I then showed them the serigraph of the painting. Again, they wanted me to donate the work and again I had to decline, for the starving artist reason mentioned above. This time, however, we came to an agreement and the museum purchased the print (and thus, was able to pay my rent for a month). Amen.

The Canyon Jewel serigraph was later displayed in the Whitehouse and President Reagan wrote me a nice letter saying that it would be part of the Reagan Presidential Library along with my Red Canyons serigraph he had displayed in 1982.

Soviet President Konstantin Chernenko was sent a Canyon Jewel serigraph via the LA Embassy- this was during the turbulent time of transition from President Chernenko to President Gorbachev, and I never found out whether or not he had received it. For all I know the serigraph was deemed a suspicious package, and  blown up in the embassy parking lot… however,

Business magnate, Philanthropist, and unofficial envoy to the Soviet Union for Presidents Nixon through Reagan, CEO of Occidental Petroleum, Dr. Armand Hammer, was also presented with a Canyon Jewel serigraph and he wrote me a very kind letter wherein Dr. Hammer, mentioned my letter to President Chernenko, that he thought my letter to President Chernenko “should indeed please him as a reflection of most American’s hope for friendship and peace.” 

Ironically, the original painting “Canyon Jewel” was stolen and I was never paid for it. I intend to donate all rights and title to the painting to the LDS Church History Museum. So, 40 years later, a donation after all…

 


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