Dancing Feet...hear the sound

The legend of the Jingle Dress and the Jingle Dance vary slightly from tribe to tribe. They all, however, have the same basis for the story: The dress was given to the People in a vision from Great Spirit for the purpose of healing.

The most noticeable part of the dress is not the dress itself but the hundreds of cone shaped Copenhagen snuff lids that adorn the dress in various shapes and patterns. The only way to describe the way they sound when they chime together is rain on a tin roof.

The dance is performed with hand on the hip to signify pain; the dancers raise the fan on the honor beat. I wanted to take a less traditional view of this dance.

For sale 42cm x 50cm backed with a matt ready for framing. US $175 SOLD

Shawl Dancer

Contrary to popular belief, this dance is not a traditional women’s style. It originated up North as a tourist and competition dance in the early 50’s and 60’s.For year’s women had struggled to find their place in the dance arena fighting conformity among other things. This was a revolutionary breakthrough for the younger women who longed for a more stylistic approach to traditional dance. Unlike the earlier styles of the 1900’s which were more calm and gentle, the Fancy Shawl Dance was a splash of color, fringe and butterfly wings, each step so quick and light that the young woman looks as though she is literally dancing on air.

The Northern Fancy Shawl Dance is said to imitate that of a butterfly, so the most important part of this dress is the individual's color scheme. The Northern lady does not wear knee boots but ankle moccasins and leggings that cover the legs. Next a yoke is worn around the neck. This can be beaded although it is not necessary (Appliqué or paint designs are appropriate). The main article in this clothing is the shawl. It should span the lady’s arms from fingertip to fingertip.

Because of the size of my painting I chose to just concentrate on the face. Though I looked at pictures for references. The designs are my choice, though many are traditional designs, the face is from my imagination.

I think I would like to do other details from this dance.

For sale 42cm x 50cm backed with a matt, ready for framing US $175

Hutterite.... Young Woman

Hutterites are a communal people, living on scattered bruderhöfe or colonies throughout the prairies in North America. This communal lifestyle finds its roots in the biblical teachings of Christ and the Apostles. Emerging as a distinct culture and religious group in the early 16th century, this non-resistant Anabaptist sect endured great persecution and death at the hands of the state and church in medieval Europe. However, the Hand of God remained on the shoulder of these people, and their descendents survived to battle on to this very day...

We have many colonies in our area and every Thursday in our city the Hutterites come to town.

A friend asked me if I had permission of the subject... the subject was conjured up in my mind. Any likeness to any hutterite is purely coincidental!

Framed Pastel 47 x 63 cm. No matt, non glare glass and gold frame.

For Sale US$300

Incognito

Still playing with using several pieces of paper.

Yes as someone said I am playing with figures again!

90 x40cm pastel unframed, for sale.

El Pecho

I have had this idea running around in my mind. As I am coming to the end of my time in Mexico, I no longer have any large sheets of paper and this was a problem for me. So here is my answer to that problem.

I wanted to have a pastel that was one picture and could be framed how the buyer wanted. I am showing the picture here , how I see it as four seperate sheets ,with the gaps to accentuate this fact. However, it could be framed with the sheets touching.

Pastel unframed 82x59cm. For sale, please contact artist.

Sleeping Baby

Seen on the streets in Mexico. This is using different paper and an unusual perspective for me!

SOLD

Hat Woman in Chiapas

Needed a change in subject matter and this is the result. I had taken this photo when we visited Chiapas back in 2007.

Pastel size 62 x 55 cm framed using 7cm matt, non glare glass and black frame US$275

ON SALE $200

Elderly Asian Woman

This was done in 2006 whan I was doing my portrait drawing. During this time I drew every grandchild and gave them their picture.

Bolero

This is a pastel of a young student that dances with a group on the Puerto Vallarta Malecon every Friday evening. I always find the Bolero a very emotional dance. This piece is for sale in the Galleria Vallarta.

Is It A Whale?

A pastel of a typical scene on the beach in Puerto Vallarta. This piece is for sale. Contact me for more information on this piece.