PAINTINGS |
"Virgin of the Tree of Life" ©
1996 - Austin, TexasThe subject of this gouache painting is eternity's woman. The virgin prays crested inside an icon of the Celtic Cross. The cruciform doubles as a "Tree of Life" where its branches create a structure that houses the woman represented in solitude. The solitary pose suggests one who searches for God, listening through her nights. Perhaps, reliant on her dreams to reveal the Holy Spirit as the sun rises, and with the Moon aloft by her lunar dispositions. Her garment is a fabric of the luminous reflecting stipes which flow on the body's surface like the rivers. At the left base of the Tree we see a Messenger Bird. The subliminal message of rebirth he sends will move on the heart of she who listens. Change is the secret that reveals promise to the hidden self. This is an artwork of meditation on Change looking forward to renewed good health. "Virgin of the Tree of Life" is in the permanent collection of Ms.Anya Murray, Spiritual Healer and Massage therapist now living in Boulder, Colorado.  ,
"Made Only for Birds" © 1995 - Weatherford, Texas.This is a "time" piece in the story of "Genevieve". It speaks of a lover's surrender to irony in the wait for love to come once more. What finite part of experience is in the luxury of compelling love, that which waits comfortably in its mystery and absence? "Made Only for Birds" is a gouache painting, and remains in the collection of the artist. For more images and the poetry of "Genevieve" turn the page to American Suites. 
"Leopard" © 1985 - Fort Worth, Texas."Leopard" is a masked quise which pictures one of the Animal Lords aligned with human nature in the "Toward Africa" series. The painting executed in gouache, speaks to the artist's curiosity of ancient and contemporary exotic civilizations. Where masks are incorporated as a tool for invoking worship, mask performers seek to reach through the guise of a super identity toward a magnification of the unseeable source. The transformation, renewal and strength attained through this manner, may ring ungodly in the ears of traditionalists. However, in the western sense of Judeo Christian tradition is it not that all semblances of God be His own creation. "Leopard" is one among these Changing Stories Children. The painting is in the collection of the artist. "Toward Africa" may be viewed more extensively by turning the page to Mythic Sources. 
"Rescue from Her Demise" © 1996 - Mexico/TexasThis painting was created as a talisman for "Genevieve" and signifies the action of reassembling her many fragmented selves. In the process of revival Genevieve dives into a subterranean well, where intuition is supplied with lucid guidance under the protection of Tukedor. "Tukedor" is a guardian spirit for Genevieve and protector of "second chances." For it is the "Second Chance Man" who lives with his beloved in their "House of Two Keys" on Mexican Mars. The abode of "Two Lovers" can be seen by opening the window from this page. "Rescue from her Demise" rendered in goauche, is held in the private collection of Gregory Evans of Austin, Texas; sincere and generous benefactor of the artist. 
"Rebecca's Repose" ©2003 - Breckenridge, Colorado."Rebecca's Repose" is a poetic portrait inspired by the confident and peaceful nature of Colorado color photographer, Rebecca Nord. Rebecca's talent and abstract appreciation of nature is supported by her select surroundings. Her studio abode is situated at the rim of Swan Mountain, where Colorado's panoramic landscape and extreme seasonal beauty informs her art.  "Lady Breckenridge" ©2003 - Breckenridge, Colorado. "Lady Breckenridge"is in the dawn hours of new opportunity. Her grace is in an awareness that listens as late seasons breezes sing a messaage that hope flutters at heart. Painted while guest visual artist during the 23rd Annual Breckenridge Festival of Film, in the Fall of 2003. 
"Departure from San Antonio" ©2004 - Grand Junction, Colorado."Departure from San Antonio" marks an occassion in 1991 when I had gone for a visit with Texas dancer, choreographer, Powell Shepherd. The trip opened my eyes to a feast of cultural activity germinating in San Antonio at that time. Meetings with Gene Elder, Jump Start Performance Company and The Blue Star Art Complex put a note of futurism on the unforeseeable tragic event at hand. Powell Shepherd would die an early death 6 years later, and I was never to see him again. Powell Shepherd was the spiritual father of Letitia Eldredge Masks. May God Bless his Soul.  "Portrait of Will Pascal Robinson: Psalm 61" ©2002 - Houston, Texas."Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I. Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I; For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah . For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name. Thou wilt prolong the king's life: and his years as many generations. He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth which may preserve him. So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows. KJ 
"The Young Girl" ©2001 - Houston, Texas.©The Young Girl© records the converging essence of an expressive young woman, who in this still moment of her life, is yet the special girl child, and "little sister". For the better part within her is a fortuitous intelligence which unfurls in poetry and story cast in syllables of untimely wisdom and fantasy. When she speaks a childish whisper is a command, for the necessity of unrelenting discipline has already been impressed on her. Someone of an artist, herself, she interviews the painter. Blue man Clifford, languishes across her lap as her special token of affection from her Father. Attending to the pose of a sitter, is routine in the making of her mind for a demanding future. It is that last free summer before society's interrogations. 
"Young Author" ©2001 - Houston, Texas."Young Author" is a studied portrait created in the home and from a slice of the life of David. It is few weeks before he departs for his college career beginning his search and with the dream of becoming an author. The gateway of his independence has opened. Way too soon a tragic event, September 11, 2001; will come upon him and his peers placing their lives in direct shadow of immense raw signifigance. All time to come will be churned upward by its turbulance. With an attracting love in his imminent future, a romantic frame of reference pulls at the fabric of his future decisions. These are strokes in observance from those rare days of premonition and his departing. 
"The Steeples" ©2002 - Houston, Texas. During a long and fortunate artist's residency in Houston, Texas between Fall 1997-Spring 2002 my painting process took a media leap from gouache paint to oil. This growth in technique shifted my visions into a deeper form of inticacy and tone. Prior to this, I had expressed mainly through iconic or figurative imagery. No less thematic, this abstract image appeared to me in a dream. I was challenged with its traditional non-objective formulation, and that it symbolized so graphically the metaphoric space I lived in. "The Steeples" became my studio refuge after unheaval by Flood Allison, June 9, 2001. 
"Nautica" ©2003 - Breckenridge, Colorado."Nautica" is another of the archetypal feminine images inspired by the experience of magnificent beauty in Summit County, Colorado. It was during the early winter now. A sense of the converging choices in nature is premonitional that this coming year will bring forth from compelling contrasts, a decisive ease. I can promise to trust intuition from now on and, without distraction, accept the blessings of its ironies. 
"Heaven's House" © 1992 - Ladonia, Texas."Heaven's House" is one of the paintings illustrating life with Genevieve. Genevieve, a madonna-esque female metaphor is depicted many ways in the epic and china mask ballet A Changing Stories Child. At an episodic crossroads between her desire for home now and a heavenly temple in reconciled love in her future, she muses above the fray of reckoning with the years in solitude. I was inspired along the road by a day visit to the rich domestic landscape of Meeker, Colorado. The gouache painting was another year to complete. 
"Reoccurring Rains" © 2001 - Houston, Texas."Reoccurring Rains" is a small painting of large prophetic importance around the fated events of June, 2001. As it happened to me on June 5th, a soft rain began in Houston. With the wide studio doors opened to sweet tropical air and the sounds of summer rainwater falling on plush folaige in the garden, I am pleasantly reminded to paint a second version of a theme that once prompted a mask sculpture more than a decade ago. The Reoccurring Rains. Not a mythical mask character, as before, this painting became evolved as a place of vivid symbolic color. The idea was a temple in one mythical world. Remnants of classicism once far removed are pictured under furious skies, there is a remote sensation of cool plentiful waters. The rains have come again to bathe and cleanse the self. This ensuing concerto of steady slow rain was clarifying and delightful. It fell all through that night and into the following day, while I worked staying atuned to the messenger authoring the small picture. Sometime in late afternoon the second day my inner eye began to turn. Wasn't there another long slow rain in my experience? Yes, that resulted in the devasting flash flood of the Trinity River in 1991. That time, I hawas also forewarned but I did not heed. After all, it was unseasonal for Texas summer! This time, I knew better. By dawn, the 7th of June, I took initiative and cancelled all plans well in advance aware the unsuspecting were now in the path of imminent danger. I warned those who would listen and those who would not. True, by that night the county residents were suffering. Flooding began to overtake a wide sphere around Houston. High waters rose covering cars, houses, and freeway overpasses. Peoples lives were washed away in treacherous waters. Heart and soul I felt I would not be personally damaged. Called it faith but I sensed God would see me through differently this second tiem. Yet, I was also certain of a propitious omen in the attribute of water itself. Movement. My painting was left unfinished. The waters swelled in my studio. I was totally uprooted four days after beginning tthis painting. Several times after relocation I went to complete the work. Then again and again, out of the blue, came more reoccuring rain. I now live far from the state I know as my birthright. To this day I remain very respectful of the gift of premonition, and that the process of painting can be a window into unfurled probability. 
"Tree of Life"©1998 - Coupland, Texas."Tree of Life" reflects a concept reported in The Masks and orginated in Mexico in 1994. The mask image is a face of the tree with blossoming eyes. The visual metaphor builds on the notion that to branch out in wisdom we will come to understand the subtle, 'auric' densities of our metaphysical existence. The two masks shown hereThe Auric Levels of Mexican Mars and Una Boba interior image, Tree of Life, both put this idea into function as an animate philosophical landscape focused from the mind's eye. ...to be continued. Webmaster 02/21/08. |