history/multicultural theme
« Previous EntriesSigns and Symbols
Wednesday, January 10th, 2024
Showing in Gallerium Art’s Signs and Symbols January 10 – March 10, 2024: Magic Hour (Gitxsan Totem Pole, Thunderbird Park, Victoria, BC Canada), 60H x 40W x 3D inches acrylics on canvas. Wrapped sides painted, sturdy home-built stretcher frame, navy blue narrow wood trim finishes the sides.
The Red Bag
Wednesday, April 5th, 2023
The Red Bag, Edfu, Egypt – 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper. Framed size 27H x 33W”.
Camel Ride
Friday, January 20th, 2023
Camel Ride, Khafre and Step Pyramids at Giza, Egypt – 16H x 22W inches soft pastels on paper. The camel ride I said I’d never take because camels are so stinky, but hey, I was there, never going to return, so gave it a try…. so uncomfortable. How have people traveled for eons on these things?
Bonsai, Japanese Gardens, Singapore
Wednesday, July 27th, 2022
Bonsai, Japanese Gardens, Singapore – 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper. Framed size 27H x 33W”.
Bonsai, meaning ‘tray planting’ in Japanese, is the art of growing, pruning and shaping small plants in containers, to mimic the sculptural growth style of larger trees. The meditative practice of creating beautiful miniature tree-replicas adheres to traditions and principles.
Emphasis is on growing only the tree, whereas Chinese penjing, which influenced the art of Japanese Bonsai, imitates larger landscapes, for example, with trees and mountain scenes.
Magic Hour 02
Monday, February 28th, 2022
Magic Hour 02, the Gitxsan Totem, Thunderbird Park, Royal BC Museum, Victoria BC, Canada, 24H x 18W inches soft pastels on paper. Framed size 33H x 27W”.
I first painted ‘Magic Hour‘ in acrylics on canvas, started July 17th, 2008, with additional blog posts on July 24th, Aug 3rd, 6th, and 15th, 2008. The painting is 60H x 40W x 3D inches ($1,100).
Symbols/crests: The bird at the crown is a giant woodpecker (wee-get-welku). Legend reads that a female ancestor kept a pet woodpecker, feeding it so much it grew to be a giant monster that ate everything made of wood until it was killed. It sits atop 5 human figures who stand on the head of the Mountain Eagle (Skim-sim), who kidnapped and mated with a woman then devoured their offspring. The eleven small figures are humans fishing through holes in the ice. Under them and not pictured in the painting is Will-a-daugh, also known as “Person With a Large Nose”, holding her child who was conceived from a wood grub.
The Grandfather Tree
Wednesday, February 16th, 2022
The Grandfather Tree, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper. Estimated to be 1800 years old, this Redwood is 265 ‘ tall with a 24 ft. diameter, located along the Avenue of the Giants, Hwy 101 CA. Framed size 27H x 33W”.
Petrified Forest
Sunday, January 24th, 2021
Crystal Forest Trail, Petrified Forest National Park, AZ – 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper.
Silent reverence for geologic history, Petrified Forest National Park, Crystal Forest Trail AZ USA. Not a whole lot more to draw here! The land is barren except for desert grass and the odd tumbleweed. This was once a lush forest, and dinosaurs roamed here. It was February, but I bet this place looks the same in July. The silence was layered with dry grasses in the breeze, ravens’ calls, and my imagination.
I had never seen a tumbleweed up close before, so since I hadn’t seen any traffic or other people for about an hour, I hopped out of the car to take photos of one in the middle of the road before it blew away. Satisfied with the takes, I got up off the road and a bus was right there 25 ft. away, waiting for me to finish. I don’t know how long the bus was there, but was thankful the driver didn’t honk… and more thankful that he saw me.
Thunderbird Park Totems
Wednesday, August 19th, 2020
Thunderbird Park Totems, Victoria BC, Canada – 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper, framed size 27H x 33W”.
The Terracotta Army
Thursday, August 6th, 2020
The Terracotta Army, Xi’an, China – 18H x 24W inches graphite, soft pastel on paper – work in progress. We visited China in 2016 so this is done from my own photos. The drawing looked boring so I added some stylized traditional Chinese characters that translate the title, “Terracotta Army”. Some tones and details need a bit more work. Here’s a link to Wikipedia with info about the sculptures.
Sacred Sunrise: Uluru, Australia
Monday, June 29th, 2020
Sacred Sunrise: Uluru, formerly known as Ayers Rock, aboriginal peoples’ sacred ancestral grounds in Northern Territory, Australia. 16H x 20W inches soft pastels on 140 lb cold pressed premium watercolor paper. Framed size approximately 21H x 25W inches, white wood frame with crackle finish.