By Cynthia Needham
Journal State House Bureau

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Looking to spend a little one-on-one time with the governor? How about applying to paint his portrait?

In perhaps the first tangible sign that Governor Carcieri's two-term tenure is slowly drawing to a close, the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts put out the call last week for artists interested in painting Carcieri's official state portrait.

State law requires that the painting be commissioned and presented to the state by the time the governor leaves office in January 2011.

The council says it will assist the governor in choosing an artist.

"Commissioning a portrait of a governor is an important event in the life of Rhode Island," said Randall Rosenbaum, director of the State Council on the Arts. "Art is the way society preserves its history. Great art tells a great story, and walking through the halls of the State House, you experience the history of Rhode Island."

Interested artists will have until Oct. 15 to submit sample work to the council for the governor's review.

No word yet on whether Carcieri will go with a full-body pose behind his desk, or perhaps just a head shot.

If you're curious about other gubernatorial portraits, you don't need travel to Capitol Hill. The Secretary of State's office has devoted an entire section of its Web site to a list of all Rhode Island's former governors, along with links to most of the portraits now hanging in the State House corridors.

Happy searching, http://www.sec.state.ri.us/library/riinfo/governors