Choctaw Bell and Marya Blake, Model

This painting titled Choctaw Belle was painted in 1850 by P. Romer an artist from Bavaria who lived in Mobile Alabama between the years 1850-1865.

This painting is just beautiful almost as beautiful as my wife Marya Blake. The similarity between the two is spectacular. Marya is of Choctaw/Chickasaw descent from her fathers side and Peruvian from her mother side. She makes the premier model for historic artist. Shes modeled for Robert Griffing, John Buxton, Pamela Patrick White, and others. She is also an accomplished artist in her own right.

Copy and photos supplied by James Blake.

Wampum Belt by Marya Blake for Robert Griffing

This Wampum Belt was made by Marya Blake uses the same construction technique that can be found on the original double strand twining tech unlike the more commonly used loom work, this means these beads were put on one at a time.

This belt has over 10,000 beads, it is known sometimes as the George Washington covenant belt or the Treaty of Canandaigu belt. This belt was made for historical artist Robert Griffing for a upcoming painting of the Treaty of Canandaigu Griffing has been working on now for 2 years. He says this painting is his largest to date. The Treaty of Canadaigu was signed Nov 11, 1794 between the grand council of the Haudenosaunee and the United States of America being represented by Timothy Pickering. It was the second diplomatic agreement America entered into under its new Constitution.   

      

Copy and photos sent by James Blake.