instantly decided to go there. He called his folks and announced the visit was off, to a family he hadn't seen in years, and he was on his way to "Paradise."

Blanding the writer

Blanding's writing career started in Hawaii when he was pressed into service as a copywriter at the advertising agency where he drew illustrations. While writing ad copy he discovered his talent for whimsical rhyming verse. His first account was for a Japanese condiment trademarked "Aji-no-moto."

He wrote short poems to introduce the "sales" copy. His little poems became so popular that he self-published a collection of them to meet growing demand. His first press run of 2,000 copies quickly sold out and a publishing house, Patten Company, picked up the book and eventually sold out a dozen printings. Blanding was 29. The condiment was monosodium glutamate.

Vogue of the 20s & 30s

Blanding's career included so many facets performed at high levels that he truly was a modern renaissance man. His designs embellished his own and others' books; dinnerware for Vernon Kiln in California, advertising in Florida,

Like most of Blanding's opportunities, and changes of pace, the fabric designs were pure serendipity. An Englishwoman, vacationing in Hawaii, was searching for ideas when she found a salt and pepper set designed by Don for Vernon Kiln. She loved it. She traced Blanding to his studio where she found him working on an illustration for a poem, "The Scarecrow Waltz." Captivated by the design she wanted it for her clothing line and collaborated with Blanding on "The Windy Willie" collection with Hale Hawaii's label.

Blanding followed up and did seven designs for Isle manufacturers "Aloha" shirts and women's garments using sea urchins, anemones, fish and what is truly an Hawaiian icon: humuhumumumukumukuapas. Try saying that three times real fast. Then try it: humu - humu - mumu - kumu - ku - apas. (It's OK if you mumble, it can not be pronounced by an English speaker.) More designs were produced for Walumull's, Leilani, Paradise Sportswear and the original Hawaiian Togs.

Newspaper man

Always a wanderer Blanding worked for a year at the Fort Pierce News-Tribune and illustrated a small fishing guide. He also shared studio space with another artist: Albert, "Beanie," Backus, who was instrumental in nurturing the Florida "Highwaymen" school of art.

A group of field hands took notice of the "easy" way Backus made a living. Backus trained some of the willing among them to be painters. They

painted on boards and sometimes used house paint but they learned. One of Backus's students was a born organizer and while one man specialized in skies, another in trees and yet another in surf, Alfred Hair concentrated on putting them all together in a production line. It didn’t matter who signed a painting. But production was limited. Today the work of these early entrepreneurs is eagerly collected.

Vernonware

Blanding's designs in fabric, his books and his ceramic work is also collectible despite the mass production of a major kiln. eBay offerings include a coffee pot, without lid, and scattered plates and individual pieces. The designs are as distinctive as Don Blanding's life.

Mr. Blanding wrote his own epitaph: