In The outline of my faculty development grant, I proposed to explore the environment, geology, and wilderness of the Colorado River on a two-week oarboat trip.

During the trip I made numerous drawings and paintings as well as fieldnotes and photographs.  The watercolors and drawings examine not only the epic beautiful landscape, but also the currents and flow of the river and the personalities and actions of the guides and rafts on the Colorado River.

To fulfill the obligation and requirements in presenting the artwork and research to the Otis community, I made a presentation to Academic Assembly on November 17th, 2007.  At that meeting, I made a PowerPoint presentation showing the connection between the changing landscape I encountered and the various art I produced.  The 15 minute presentation outlined the colors, variations in geology and textures, effects of the river water on the canyon walls, etc… I also displayed a large selection of fieldsketches, and sketchbooks, ink drawings, and watercolors.  All of them were done over the course of the funded trip.

- Gary Geraths, Area Head, Life Drawing,
Foundation Department