- In this Southwestern Still Life Oil Painting, "Spring
Solstice," an original oil on panel, I was interested in
creating an artwork that reflected objects of the ancient Indians
of the American Southwest in a setting that included a Sun Dagger
clock. The basket is old Jicarilla, the pottery is Anasazi. I
drew my inspiration for the imaginary setting from having visited
Chaco Canyon in New Mexico. The ancient Indians must have had
the luxury of enough time to have developed their craft to such
a state of fine art.
I borrowed the basket and other potential objects from a neighbor
who was a salesperson in the gallery that sold my work and who
happened to lived a few blocks over from me in downtown Taos.
As I was walking back to my studio apartment a great white light
enveloped me and I heard a loud voice, that said "Stop Where
You Are," which I thought was the Great Spirit speaking
to me, so I froze in place, then I noticed red flashing lights,
it was the Taos Police who saw me carrying an arm full of what
they thought to be stolen artifacts, they loaded me up in the
patrol car and back we went to my neighbor's home, and after
being convinced that there was no major robbery they gave me
a ride with objects in hand, back to my apartment on Martyrs
Lane, which was owned by my gallery agent. I had only lived at
this location for a week, so all the neighbors got to watch the
entire fiasco take place. There's nothing like a great first
impression.
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