Miniature Show in Santa Fe - Gallery 822

Crow Medicine, 10 x 8, oil on board.

I hope to see you this Friday, Nov 26 at Gallery 822 on Canyon Road, Santa Fe for the annual miniature show. The artist reception is 5:00 - 8:00.

Stop by, say hello and buy someone a gift of art.

Snake Dancer

Snake Dancer, 6 x 6, oil on cradled panel

The Snake Dance is a petition for rain, in which snakes serve as the supernatural messengers to the divine. The dance takes place in late summer when the rain is needed for the maturation of the corn.

Season to Dance- American Indian

Season to Dance 16 x 20, oil on linen

During the Cheyenne Sun Dance the Sacred Woman is painted 4 different ways during the ceremony. This is the First Paint. The white paint is a prayer that she may live to an old age, the time of white hair. The black line represents the straight road that leads to The Supreme Being.

SOLD

Shalako Mana - Corn Maiden

Shalako Mana, 8 x 10, oil on Board © K. Henderson

The Shalako Mana is a deity representing the Corn Maiden and is believed to direct the clouds to the Hopi mesas.In the typical fashion she has terraced bodies representing rain clouds on her head and curved lines over her mouth.

Sacred Fool - Koshare

Sacred Fool, oil on canvas, 24 x 36

Sacred Fool is yet another name for a Pueblo Indian Sacred Clown. These clowns participate in ceremonies trivializing important matters & exaggerating trivial events. Their purpose is to show how NOT to behave. They are teachers and keepers of tradition

SOLD

Red Indian

Red Indian, oil and gold leaf on linen, 30 x 40

And now for something completely different. This is the 3rd in a series of paintings using the logo of the Indian motorcycle. I was inspired by a red gas tank with gold lettering.

I like the contrast between the bright contemporary background and the more traditional and subdued colors of the American Indian figure.

Sundown - cowboy

Sundown, 36 x 30, SOLD

This Cowboy just found a new home. I enjoyed painting the colorful clouds at sundown.

The Cowboy is wearing the typical regalia of hat, vest, and pocket watch

Cowboy's Sweetheart

Cowboy's Sweetheart, 20 x 30, oil on linen

I worked on the faces again. I think this is it. I couldn't decide if I should leave it as a sepia tone painting or if I should layer on some color.

What do you think?

SOLD

Cowboy's Sweetheart - Work in progress 5

Cowboy's Sweetheart, work in progress

Almost there

Cowboy's Sweetheart - Work In Progress 4

Cowboy's Sweetheart, work in progress

It's coming together

Cowboy's Sweetheart - Work in Progress 3

Cowboy's Sweetheart, Work in progress

I have basics down so now I just have to refine everything

Cowboy's Sweetheart - Work in Progress 2

Cowboy's Sweetheart , work in progress, day 2.
Today I continued working on the faces and hats of the left and center figure as well as applying the first layer of paint to the left figure's clothing.
When I do an underpainting like this, I start my mixing about 6 values of paint. These are not very precise mixtures. I do this just to make things go faster.

Cowboy's Sweetheart - Work in progress

Cowboy's Sweetheart, Work in progress
I had a few folks asked me to post images of my work in progress so here it it.

FirstI draw the image on tracing paper the size of the canvas. Then, with carbon paper, I transfer the image to the canvas.

I start my paintings in different ways, depending on the subject and the colors. In this case I'm starting with a monochromatic (raw umber and white)underpainting. This is the results of 1 day's work