A prayer, a rabbit,s foot, a special song or number…a fetish. All examples of ways in which humans affix hope in a concrete way. The wish for health, happiness, good fortune, a good life. Whether symbolically evidenced in a tangible form, or held closely within ones heart. A prayer.
Red is a highly symbolic color: of death, blood and violence. It can also symbolize exuberance, sexiness, richness, fame. What many Americans don’t realize is, red has many different meanings globally. Some brides wear red, some people wear red in mourning. Understanding a reference to color in a cultural piece, therefore, requires understanding of the culture in which it was …
Which of us are not in many days merely plugging along, treading water, staying afloat… This weary figure emerged within my painting entitled “Bison Fetish”. I have been doing many of my paintings in warm, vibrant colors, so this particular image is at odds with the festive nature of the colors in the painting. It is symbolic of how hard …
What makes something valuable? If I contemplate the phenonomon of E-Bay, it takes two or more people interested in something to give it a value. The higher the interest, the more bidding that takes place, until the ultimate sales price is established. Supply and demand. Other ways to evaluate a value is to look at an item’s importance; either by …
Despite the prevalent Thunderbolt image in this painting, a major theme of the work is the phases of the moon which are in the background. My intent is to show the symbolic passage of time as well as the telling of time. Several days have passed since I last blogged: a nasty virus took me down, and zapped my strength. …
This is a detail of a painting I did of Lookout Mountain, in Spearfish, South Dakota. This local landmark is symbolic of home to me. The painting is titled: Beneath the Surface. To the west of this beautiful valley, headed to Wyoming, is an intriguing site. It was discovered when Interstate 90 was being built. It is an ancient buffalo …
After a long and cold winter, I am seeing more sun in the Black Hills. There is still snow, grant you, but now there is sun. I walked my dog, Tip, yesterday, and heard birds chirping. Between the mud puddles there were traces of green grass poking up. I am so glad Spring is nearly here! I cannot imagine how …
I began my painting career with watercolor. It has been the basis of all other medium I have painted with, as I like to paint in transparent layers. This technique is very helpful in my exploration of juxtaposition of imagery in my artwork. Now, after many years away from watercolor painting, it is again the basis of the work I …
In making trade, one establishes a currency. Early settlers and trapper traders in America utilized trade beads as a form of currency. To have technology that another group does not have, is power. It was then: it still is today. Keeping technology at cutting edge is a harder and harder feat in today’s world. To bargain with a human being, …
I love to paint the sensation of motion: life is in continuous motion, and if it isn’t, then you aren’t moving forward! Many of my paintings incorporate movement. I love the feel of the paint as I push it around to create effects. I love the texture of the paper and how the paint responds to it. “Everything is in …