I want your opinion.

The Story Teller - Concho
Work in progress in my studio.

Work in progress in my studio.

 This is one of my Indian busts I have been working on. I know that many people say that art should tell a story. I decided to call this piece The Story Teller - Concho. In the past the Indians of the Southwest had an oral tradition of passing down their stories and history. They also left beautiful petroglyphs and pictographs on the walls of canyons, caves and rock formations. These also were a form of communication.

The front of the base.

   I was trying to decide what kind of structure to place my bust on that will attach to the granite when it is cast. I decided ( I think) to create kind of an organic rock like base covered with the designs taken from the rock art of the Southwest. So this is my question. What do you think? Does it work for you? As artists I would like to hear what you think.

Side view of base.

Back of the base with my signature.

Side view of the base.

The Stars and Stripes

   Happy Fourth of July today. I got up early and worked in my gardens, picked some fruits and vegetables, had a visit from some Jehovah's witnesses traveling through my neighborhood, and played with my dogs.

Today's Harvest
Squash, peppers, tomatoes, peaches, okra, a cucumber, and three miniature oranges

   Soon I'll be going out to lunch and then out to paint with my friend Kent Brewer. I hope you all have a Happy Fourth and see lots of beautiful fireworks.
    Doug

Scout in the backyard.

Sculpture on a rainy day.

My Indian sculpture (in clay) on my patio.

It was Father's Day today. I went out to lunch with my parents, sister, brother in law and four nephews. Then came home to work in my garden and on my art. It has been a nice day today. Pleasant temperature and light rain. Good weather for sculpting outdoors provided the mosquitoes don't eat you up.

My sculpture of a Plains Indian on my patio.

I did a bit of work on my second Indian sculpture. This Indian is a Plains Indian wearing a buffalo robe and with a feather in his hair. I have not spent a lot of time on this one but I am enjoying it. I am working on this one more from old photographs and imagination, not from a model and so it has been more challenging ut also more freeing in some ways..

My two doves

When the mosquitoes are not so bad my patio is one of my favorite places to paint or sculpt. I have two doves and several finches that coo and sing non stop. I enjoy them a lot. I also have several lemon and orange trees on the patio and lots of other blooming things. Altogether, it makes a great place to work, with wonderful northern light for painting.

Some of my oranges, these are miniatures.

Ogre Woman Kachina

Ogre Woman
8 x 10
oil on canvas
not for sale

This is a painting of one of my favorite kachinas, an Ogre Woman. I bought her in Albuquerque. (She is a fairly old one.) I chose to paint her at an angle as she hangs on the wall.

Old Hopi Kachina

                                                                  Old Hopi Kachina
                                                                        5 x 7
I actually started a new painting today rather than  finishing up one that was already started, not that I don't have plenty that still need finishing. This kachina was a birthday present. The colors are faded and one of the feet is damaged but he has a lot of character and I had a lot of fun painting him. I really enjoy the southwestern states of New Mexico and Arizona and I especially like the art work of the Native American tribes of the region.