Afghan Faces

Skip is now deployed with the State Department in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan for a year. He is working with local leaders to help build their society and infrastructure, with the goal of reducing the influence of the Taliban. When he can, he's drawing, particularly the faces of the Afghans, ISAF soldiers, and others. Some of the drawings are collected here. He's also keeping a running commentary on his blog, "Ramblings from a Painter", and posting his drawings and sketches there. Bookmark the blog and check it frequently for updates.

"Residue of Conflict"

"Residue of Conflict" was an exhibit of oil paintings, watercolors, and drawings about the after-effects of combat. It was on display during March, 2010, in Mars Hill College's Weizenblatt Gallery. The exhibit had a marked impact on the college's students and faculty, most of whom had no military experience. Rohde had a gallery talk with a group of students to discuss the works' backgrounds, meanings, methods, and messages, and both he and the students learned quite a bit.

The image above is "Portraits from Iraq". The eight small portraits of the series were combined into one artwork, whose plywood-and-screws construction mirrors the temporary construction methods used on military bases in Iraq.

Bella Vista Art, 14 Lodge St., Asheville, NC 28803, (828) 768-0246: Located in the historic Biltmore Village shopping center, Bella Vista carries a selection of Rohde's original intaglio prints and drawings.

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