Following visit to the First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City and the Hopi Reservations in Arizona, it’s hard to put into words, but I have been transformed by what I have learned. I want them to hold their heads up, rise up, BE renewed in all their understanding and spiritual power. This is about a one-hour rant about that.
I used to ’event’ and in this painting I wanted to capture that moment when your horse is flying to the cross-country fence and you want him to ‘check back’ a little, gather himself for a safe flight.
Waking Up The Warhorse is an improvisational painting; A “call to arms” if you will…
As I age, I am inspired by Yeats’ poem: “An aged man is but a paltry thing; A tattered cloak upon a stick unless Soul clap its hands and sing, and loudly sing for every tatter in its mortal dress.” I think my Soul is clapping and singing… I’m having lots of fun discovering anyway!
You know those times when you lose your nerve? When you’re not sure you want to ‘get back in’? Well, I decided it was time to get back into the studio and see what happens. This is an improvisational piece that simply emerged one afternoon.
You know when you just wiggle the brush around, then you see what happens? 5 horse heads began to emerge as I painted along. I love the marks and colors as much as anything.
This is a sketch from my Montpelier Steeplechase commission. I didn’t complete the jockey because, most important to me was that I captured the motion. That’s what I was aiming for anyway.
It’s hard to let go, let your children go their own way. It’s tentative; It’s not comfortable especially in today’s world. I think these are the feelings that prompted this piece.
