Corliss Blakely
 
    This project started when my husband and I were traveling in Central America six years ago. We went to Ometepe Island in Nicaragua and in the small town of Balgue met four young children while waiting for a bus. At that time I could not speak Spanish so I started drawing pictures for them. They were so thrilled and charming and obviously starved for art enrichment, I told them we would be back.
    Since then we have returned every March and have started an art program in the public schools of Balgue.  The program serves approximately 450 pupils. In the past  years we hand carried over $3000.00 in donated art supplies and books to the school system. We also took three computers and a printer that were donated.
    During the day I teach at the elementary school. After school and on Saturdays I also have classes, and spend most of the time instructing any children that want to improve their art skills. Classes are aimed at developing drawing and painting skills using donated materials and depicting the artistically rich local environment..
    The community of Balgue and the people of Ometepe have responded by opening up their homes and hearts to us.
 
    Corliss Blakely a seventh generation Vermonter, was born in St. Albans, Vermont where she presently lives. She received her formal art training in Boston. While there she studied at both Vesper George Art School and The Museum School Of Fine Art.

   Corliss creates paintings of a uniquely photographic nature. The homes, farms and antiques of her ancestors in northern Vermont often are portrayed in her paintings. Corliss is nationally recognized for her work, which hangs on every continent in several media including watercolor, oil, and egg tempera.
 
 
 
Art
Art Project in Nicaragua
Corliss at her studio
Life in Vermont
  During the summer months  Barry and I live on the south end of Butler Island in Lake Champlain.
    It is a wonderful place !