JOHN L. HEATWOLE (SHENANDOAH VALLEY OF VIRGINIA, 1948-2006) SKETCH BOOK, mostly graphite on paper, one ink, comprising 59 pages, some double sided, of studies and drawings for his wood carvings, including "Hungry I '89", "The Lecturer '90", "Reunion of Umbaugh's Guerillas", "The Boys from Steam Hollow", and "Seawright Springs, June 11, 1989", several loose, not signed. Circa 1990. 12" x 8 1/2".
Provenance: Property of a Rockingham Co., VA gentleman; one of John Heatwole's close friends.
Recovered from the Heatwole workshop after the flood of 1996.
Catalogue Note: John L. Heatwole was an award winning wood carver, author, historian, and folklorist, who lived and worked in Bridgewater, VA for most of his life. Heatwole was a direct descendant of numerous Shenandoah Valley artisans, including potter John D. Heatwole and blacksmith Peter Wine. His work reflected childhood imagination and the folk traditions of the Shenandoah Valley. In 1991, he was the first Virginia artist and the only carver ever to be honored with a solo exhibition of his work in the U. S. Senate Rotunda on Capitol Hill. The "Washington Post Arts Magazine" described Heatwole as "a magical interpreter of man's need for humor, fantasy and wonder." Heatwole passed away in 2006 at the much-too-early age of 58 after a heroic battle with cancer.
Condition
Excellent overall condition with some wear, first and last pages with water staining.