Imagekind Gallery JHTFauxReal

Along the Path

Medicine wheel and a prayer feather, symbols of devotion along the path of life.

Full Moon Kiva

This painting initiates the beginning of the next chapter in my work, as it represents one of my internal experiences when I am doing my outdoor survey work on the ancient people who once lived here. It may not fit the scientific paradigm precisely nor someone else's definition as it is my internal vision only. But the inspiration (in-spirit) I receive from this expression becomes my nutrition. I hope you enjoy. Further details about this painting can be viewed here: http://www.seekingcenter.com/inprogress/fullmoon/kiva.html

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Fool's Gold

Anecdotally, this is a self portrait. For the past 30 years I have been hiking around the wilderness of northern Arizona "seeking enlightenment." But metaphorically, this is a painting about seeking value, external versus internal. I wanted to illustrate the idea that lasting values are illusive. Even the beauty of the golden aspen leaves and the copper fern in Fall are fading from our observation as we speak. We are attracted to similar beauty in our material lives, things that sparkle, and we assume have great value. In time they all rust and fade away. So, in the early morning mist of the high altitude of the San Francisco Peak's old growth forest I have indicated how the pursuit goes on, in spite of the temporary beauty along the path. I hope you find inspiration from this idea. Detailed images of this picture are here: http://www.seekingcenter.com/inprogress/fools/gold.html

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View From My Studio

Yes, this really is the winter view out the north window of my studio in Flagstaff, Arizona. There is this moment at sunrise after a storm when the sun turns pure gold and bathes the entire landscape. Then, in a few more minutes, it's over and it all again returns to gray. This is a very large painting, more of a pictorial from my days of painting billboards. I've worked on it in various stages for over five years, it's pure love. I never forget, as I work here, that one of my earlier studios faced a concrete abutment of a freeway in Pasadena, California. For detailed images go here: http://www.seekingcenter.com/inprogress/view/mystudio.html

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Influence of Jupiter

I have waited 20 years to paint this picture! Yes, it is one of my "innerscapes.' This allegorical composition is about the influences that direct our destiny. This can be religion, myth, astrology, superstition, luck, karma or whatever. Most people feel a sense of external intervention behind the superficial events we experience. I've used a few of mine to illustrate my point. A vision of the planet Jupiter appeared right in front of me one day, one Thursday (Thor's Day). I felt it indicated great change ahead. Once in a trance session I experienced the idea of having once been a dolphin. It was very odd, like a dream, and I've never interpreted why I did this. But it WAS awesome. On my archaeological hikes I'm always observing owls, messengers to the Native Americans I'm told. There is a figure in the painting, a person waiting. All spiritual avatars sexually neuter themselves by wearing clothing that lacks gender (pope, etc.) so the monk's robe is appropriate as the soul is seeking here, using symbols from the subconscious for direction. This will appeal to the contemplative type. They'll recognize their own symbols and how all of this works. Details from this painting can be viewed here: http://www.seekingcenter.com/inprogress/jupiter/influence.html

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Lion and Lamb

The subject of this little painting is a favorite of my oldest daughter. I painted it in honor of her and her husband's deep Christian faith.

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Grand Canyon Pastels

During the few weeks of heavy rain during the monsoon season in August at the Grand Canyon it is TRANSFORMED. Plant life on the lower plateaus burst with green growth along with wildflowers on the rim. The normally pink, mauve and purple gray canyon takes on a wonderful green hue for the brief event. Thunderstorms with heavy downspouts and bright rainbows fill the hot afternoons. This is the theme of this painting, based on many personal visits at this time of the year. I'll also add, I am aware of the unusual vertical proportions of this picture. Over the years I have been asked for paintings like this for that vertical wall space next to a door or between two windows. It happens quite often. The yellow blossom is a prickly pear cactus, popular everywhere in northern Arizona. Close up details of this painting can be viewed here: http://www.seekingcenter.com/inprogress/grandcanyon/monsoon.html

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Prayers left for the cloud people

On day in August, while on my archaeological survey, I climbed to the top of a small volcano and watched this monsoon thunderstorm develop. The sky over the San Francisco Peaks went from clear blue to this thunderhead within three hours. I realized that for centuries ancient people had this same experience. "Native American cultures, like many other cultures, believe in many gods. Some cultures believe they can speak directly to the gods, while others - whether out of fear or out of respect - believe they need a go-between. In the Hopi tradition, the "Cloud People" (katisam) are spirits that represent almost every aspect of Hopi life. It is believed they once visited in person, but now come as clouds or mist. Hopi katsinam can represent almost anything, male or female, clan ancestors, plants, animals, insects, human qualities, the elements, and even death. They are responsible for accepting Hopi offerings and prayers to give to the gods in exchange for health, rain and fertility."

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Walnut Canyon Cliff Dwellings

In 1988 and 1989 I worked as a volunteer at our local Walnut Canyon National Monument. I spent many hours exploring the ancient Sinagua ruins and rock art in this beautiful place. This painting is a subject I've wanted to do for a long time. It captures the environment today when you walk along the island trail now open to the public. Anyone who has been here will recognize and appreciate this scene.

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I'm in a Grand Canyon mood.

This is one of those spontaneous paintings you do just for the fun of it, with an emphasis on expression more than execution. You just cimb in wet on wet, almost like plein aire work and just do it. It leaves you with an impressionistic result that is satisfying. In fact, the temptation to refine it must be resisted. It is also one of those "fine art for business" pieces where bright color and the emotional impact is wanted in a restaurant or hotel lobby, perfect for interior designers.

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Grand Canyon Morning Thunder

Generally in the Southwest during the late summer the monsoon thunderstorms develop in the midday heat. But occasionally these big boomers go all night. On rare occasion they will be in their prime at sunrise and if you are ever at the Grand Canyon when this occurs you will never forget it.

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Eternity Revealed

Experiencing the Grand Canyon is an exposure of self to large concepts of time in space. This painting's composition is an attempt to capture that, similar to the feeling of awe we experience in great cathedrals. We are confronted by our "smallness" by comparison. The Grand Canyon is often referred to geologically as a "time machine," a living laboratory of earth's history.

Grand Canyon Geology

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Grand Canyon Memories

It is easy to become emotional about painting the Grand Canyon. When you live here you realize how sudden weather events can explode in just a few hours transforming the otherwise placid landscape into high contrast of wind, sun, rain or snow. There's a reason this place is so scenically beautiful. It has had to stand these powerful erosive elements for millions of years leaving us this sculptured scenery.

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Grand Canyon Acrobats

You can be sitting in silence on the rim of the Grand Canyon, meditating on the grandeur and timelessness of it all, when without notice the raucous comedians burst into the scene. The jesters have arrived in the royal court. You can't help but be entertained and distracted.

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Confrontation

This is not a painting about flying saucers, although UFO buffs will love it! It's really about human consciousness, or perhaps better put, ignorance and limitation. I've named this piece "Confrontation" because it represents all of the fear and wonder we feel about unimaginable possibilities. Other worlds, in reality and in our minds, are exhilarating and frightening. What if our beliefs are wrong? What happens when we are confronted by the responsibility of our own self imposed limitations? Confronting our own beliefs as formidable mistakes is very powerful. This painting is supposed to inspire thoughts about the possibilities regardless of what they are to you. Enjoy.

Grand Canyon Rapture - Panel One

If you want to see a photo of them all on display go here: "http://www.seekingcenter.com/finished/paintings.html" This grand project is one of my most satisfying and it is an interior decorator's dream. This "mural" has been executed as four independent masonite panels becoming over eight feet wide when on display. This Grand Canyon panorama looks northeast from the south rim capturing the grandeur of an early winter morning just after a slight snowfall. It is about 28 degrees and the moisture intensifies all of the colors. The beauty of having ImageKind at my disposal on a project like this is that I can install this project here for people to see and I can make it available for purchase as one of their high quality reproductions. And, in this case, allowing you the customer to purchase one panel, two panels or whatever according to your needs and display space. They will print them different sizes for you! What you are looking at on this page is just one of the FOUR PANELS that comprise this mural.

Grand Canyon Rapture - Panel Two

If you want to see a photo of all four panels on display go here: "http://www.seekingcenter.com/finished/paintings.html" This grand project is one of my most satisfying and it is an interior decorator's dream. This "mural" has been executed as four independent masonite panels becoming over eight feet wide when on display. This Grand Canyon panorama looks northeast from the south rim capturing the grandeur of an early winter morning just after a slight snowfall. It is about 28 degrees and the moisture intensifies all of the colors. The beauty of having ImageKind at my disposal on a project like this is that I can install this project here for people to see and I can make it available for purchase as one of their high quality reproductions. And, in this case, allowing you the customer to purchase one panel, two panels or whatever according to your needs and display space. They will print them different sizes for you! What you are looking at on this page is just one of the FOUR PANELS that comprise this mural.

Grand Canyon Rapture - Panel Three

Grand Canyon Rapture - Panel Four

The Portal

This painting is one of my famous allegories, another "inner vision." This one is about entering the unknown self, the darkness, the subconscious, even the afterlife for some. The stone archway is the portal, the door into the other world. The rose represents the unfolding self, each petal an experience in life that adds to the whole flower. The owl is a symbol of the messenger from the unconscious, the intuition that expresses itself as that small inner voice that brings us our truth from the unknown. It flies back and forth through this portal doing its work. The candle is the light in the darkness; we're always seeking it. And the moon is about cycles, ebb and flow, patterns of yin and yang, within TIME wherein all of this happens.

Sittin' On Top of the World at the Grand Canyon

Humorously, the entire time I was working on this painting I felt I was sitting on the prow of a huge ship over a sea of clouds, like in the Titanic movie. There are places at the Grand Canyon where the eroded precipitous limestone "promontories" give one the feeling of looking out over the ocean. When I saw this enormous rock cliff I knew I had to paint it. Enjoy, and don't miss the hiker sitting on the rim.

Emergence

After two years effort I've completed this "innerscape' painting, an allegory composition that represents many of my subjective experiences during my 20 years of archaeological explorations in northern Arizona. By "innerscape" I mean reference to symbols that might appear in a dream, all based upon conscious daytime experiences now in memory. Obviously this scene is at night under a full moon standing at the base of a Sinagua ruin made of volcanic basalt stones, exploiting natural caves in the escarpment. In this presentation I've made the basalt wall in the shape of a human face, staring out onto the scene. I've done this because I unconsciously believe that the ancient sites remain sentient, demanding respect and courtesy while we visit and study. The night blooming Sacred Datura flower is of course the shaman's tool for visions. It seems to be in concert with the moon. I have watched the blossoms open just before the moon comes up, releasing a wonderful lemon scent at the last moment. And, finally, I constantly observe owls on my hikes, in the Spring of 2006 I watched six baby owls in their nests. I visited them at a distance each week until they fledged. This is another painting that captures the subjective portion of my work.

Grotto of Ancient Petroglyphs

This composition depicts a typical enclosure within the eroded walls of any one of our local limestone canyons. Several stone surfaces are enscribed with petroglyph rock art. A portion of an ancient wall is in the foreground, now providing support for a Sacred Datura flower. A Raven arrives to bear witness and his curiosity at what we're looking at. Then, in the shadows we become aware of spirits from the past, memories, a Sinagua boy in awe of the stories being revealed by his mentor as they study a wall of inscriptions. We wish we could listen in for we wonder today at their original meaning.