When I was lucky enough to witness this presentation, I asked for a release and was greeted with "let me think about it"
There is a very good reason to think it over.
The Native Americans in the Southwest have been iconic and functioned at money-making props for many artists and tourism promotions and have not benefitted from their "personhood". You are your face and features. Stealing the one thing you ARE is a very tricky issue.
So, even as I left, she was still thinking.....
I have tweaked a bit the experience and this is the image I have of the presentation! No face, just the amazing experience of watching hands on a traditional loom....
I began with a way too detailed drawing. The skin on these ancient hands is so full of character, much like the weathered mounds in the badlands of the park..
This is a toned canvas and I drew in pastel pencil and chalk to start the image.
I began trying to paint the amazing arms and silver
This was always the fun stuff! I love exploring flesh and although this model did not have my requisite "eyeballs" I say I paint, the humanity is what I hoped to capture. I am always in love with work that shows it is not a photo, but the work of a human being, so I always like to stop before it is done, but this needs a better environment...
So I had to move on to the boring stuff... fibers and background:
The piece on the right was about done, but it looked too empty....
I wanted to reflect the spirit of the weaver. Spiderwoman, not in a place but just the weaver, and her spindle.... and........ what?
I added the products of her hands and softened the light from the window.
I have a high quality photo of the drawing above and will upload it to my Fine Art America store soon. I will have a full area of my work from the Petrified Forest and continue to update.
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