Dayanna Knight

I have paint now that exactly matches the interior smelt colors.

Took me years. One of these days I'll do some big burning scene with them.

I like to think so 🙂 luckily I ended up with a teaching skeleton after a friend retired from teaching bioanthro so I can keep my hand in for drawing in person. It's a bit harder for me with certain types of artifacts.

Sketch of a skeletal right hand, shown from the palm.

Sometimes it’s back to basics with osteo material like this palmar right hand, sometimes a site. Mostly if I don’t have a commission on, or am figuring out angles for one still, I keep my hands ready with more or less daily exercise.

Sketch of the ruins at Igaliku, Greenland.

Booked for TK today. They normally have a nap so I work on sketches or write until it’s time for their 2nd recess of the day.

A lifetime ago I was here at Igaliku.

All of the teachers in all of the districts that I substitute with here in California have been stockpiling snacks for kids already. I've been keeping extra granola bars for staff to have in the staff room.

This view of the Fox Theater Tower was one of the test pieces I did for the Feast at the Fox to figure out how I was going to paint the theater front live at the event itself. #stockton, #localartist, #coloringbook

I substitute because I have bills and the kids are fun to hang out with. I can somewhat chase the love of research feeling as I work on the local coloring books.

When I can afford to because substitutes are not paid well, even in California. *This year is much less than it was last year.

And if you're wondering why I don't pick up a local museum job- I've tried. I have more qualifications than both of the museum directors in my area and have applied and interviewed w/ both over the years. Both ghost my emails and one also actively avoids me at public events.

First Skype a Scientist session for Fall 2025 for me today so I've been thinking harder about #archaeology, #medieval, #museumwork and my place in the scheme of things.

You all have no idea how much I miss it and the people I've met along the way.

Blanche and freeze? Then you have a bit more time.

I will be at Discovery Martial Arts Stockton for National Night Out- come and visit my booth! I'll have copies of the Historic Stockton Coloring Book, toys, and more available! #stockton, #downtownstockton, #visitstockton, #historicstockton, #Coloringbook, #archaeologicalillustration, #localartist

elmo from sesame street standing in front of a wall Alt: elmo from sesame street standing in front of a wall

I know of another dig where a lecturer was sent home. There was no stick around until the flight home there though because he was sent home directly. As I recalled there was a major concern about the host institutions and farm owner being insulted. Brill dig other than that though

Balls. Just go be out and about in Bulgaria huh? I am super not surprised.

Tuesday evening y'all! If you are in Stockton for National Night Out come and visit my booth. I'll have copies of the Historic Stockton Coloring Book, toys, and more available! #stockton, #downtownstockton, #visitstockton, #historicstockton, #Coloringbook, #archaeologicalillustration, #localartist

I used to ride my bike up to campus with a full size drawing board strapped to my side. I was still learning Old Norse at that stage so I'd go to the Scandinavian Library on my lunch break if I had an archive shift in the Bancroft that day.

It was also the first time anyone let me do illustration and archive work on the same site. Brilliant dig.

One of the excavators for that particular pit was from a mining town so it was dealt with swiftly and promptly. Part of the site included the campus observatory at North Gate and that particular pit was to explore the footing for a granite instrument stand. The mercury was science shrapnel.

I came through Notts Uni not long after that. I know exactly who you are talking about.

A female grad student- not me- broke his nose for his audacity while I was there.

UC Berkeley- shout out to Laurie Wilkie for holding on an on campus excavation. No flint but we did get mercury in a test pit first week. Chem dept didn't believe us until the Geiger Counter came out to confirm.

One week left to apply for this tenured #envhist job!

National Night Out come and visit my booth! I'll have copies of the Historic Stockton Coloring Book, toys, and more available! #stockton, #downtownstockton, #visitstockton, #historicstockton, #Coloringbook, #archaeologicalillustration, #localartist

Just a reminder to those making slides for online presentations: your photo captions in the lower left corner will always be partially covered by the screen in screen view.

Shout out to all the artists networking and sharing in the group chat while we wait for next session.

It is 3:30am here and I am awake for an online conference (which has been lovely so far). The guinea pigs are all asleep. The rabbit is confused.

Thank you because none of us can without an escape plan already in motion. I’m only academic adjacent at best these days but how this all is playing out beyond higher education into K12 is even more insidious and disgusting.

If you happen to be in Stockton for National Night Out come and visit my booth! I'll have copies of the Historic Stockton Coloring Book, toys, and more available! #stockton, #downtownstockton, #visitstockton, #historicstockton, #Coloringbook, #archaeologicalillustration, #localartist

Helen's Oaks original location at Weber's Point. Ninth and final page of contextual photos. These photos were taken before the creation of the park that now exists. #visitstockton #historicstocktoncoloringbook

Helen's Oaks original location at Weber's Point. Eighth page of contextual photos. These photos were taken before the creation of the park that now exists. #visitstockton #historicstocktoncoloringbook

Helen's Oaks at the West Lane location. Seventh page of contextual photos. Photo number 17 shows the original driveway that led to the house. The painting of Helen's Oaks created as part of the grant will be part of the Silent Auction occurring at the Feast at the Fox this September. #visitstockton

Helen's Oaks at the West Lane location. Sixth page of contextual photos. Both Julia and Helen kept extensive gardens, the remnants of which were still around at the West Lane farm location when I took these photos. #visitstockton