Back in September Anne and I went to Jackson Hole. I gave workshop, we explored galleries, and spent a week doing art. I reported on it in an earlier blog. Here are the paintings produced before the trip (the Indians), during the time there (the equestrians), and from photos afterward (the landscapes).
Blues in Wyoming, acrylic, 44×44
Starting in the middle, here’s a piece painted in Marty Peet’s Wyoming studio. It’s from an historical black and white photo I’d come across. My colors just sort of showed up, wild and fenceless, like the landscape.
Best Friends, acrylic, 42×28
Here’s another taken from an historical black and white. I found the photo in a magazine in the Peet’s apartment (where we stayed). Sorry I didn’t note the identity of the person, an early resident of note in the area.
Red Chief, acrylic, 26×20
This and the following are pieces I painted in preparation for the trip. It’s a subject and style I’d often thought I’d like to explore, and here was reason. Their frames I made of reclaimed wood, from an old barn in Tennessee. I’m showing the pieces here hanging in our house, complete with extraneous artifacts we’ve collected from everywhere.
Daytime Dreams, acrylic, 32×24
Maybe it’s my fascination with this land’s original dwellers. Maybe it’s the the claim of my parents that I share a smidgen of Cherokee blood . . . from both sides. Maybe it’s my admiration for 19th century photographer Edward Curtis and his life work to document these people before their ways would be gone. Those photos, of course, are all black and white, or soft sepia. I add color, sometimes with dynamic departure from what would have really been. And why not, by now it’s an imaginary world we’re reconstructing.
Hopi Girl, acrylic, 32×24
Here’s another from an Edward Curtis photo. All the girls in this tribe at this period wore their hair this way. Perhaps it’s a style that will return. (Didn’t Princess Leah wear hers like this, in a galaxy far away?)
Field of Dreams, oil,16×16
It was back home in the studio where I painted a few landscapes from photos taken on location. The colors, the textures, and the grand expanse of it all are hard to capture on a small canvas . . . so one INTERPRETS.
Fence in a Field, oil, 31×39. For larger, click here, then on that picture.
Speaking of interpreting, as I was painting along on this one, and starting to get overwhelmed with the detail, I literally asked God how He would do all the wild brush in the foreground. What I got was, “Throw paint; that’s what I do.” Maybe it’s because of that it’s become one of my personal favorites.
Lake Near Wilson, oil, 24×18
The town of Wilson is just next to Jackson Hole, both of which are nestled just beneath the Grand Tetons. Ashley Lund, the friend who purchased this one, wrote the wonderful tribute quoted in a Blank Slate, “Spiritual Homesteading.”
Land Loving Sun, oil, 12×16
Finally, one more, again in situ, placed as it was at this moment over a small library of small (relic) books. Could look good anywhere, like at your house. Same goes for all on this blog (except one), and for most on the website. Either way, we hope you enjoy these.
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Next, Oregon calls once again. For the rest of this month we’ll be in the rain and the wild of yet another part of this beautiful world. We’ll be indoors mostly, making art, living life. Live yours, too, artfully.
11:17 am
You still have it!!!!!!!
12:20 pm
It did take me away. Very refreshing. Insightful. I love how you have captured God’s creation.
1:25 pm
Beautiful! Just looking at your art made my day :)
1:31 pm
Just throw the paint certainly works and makes it more “natural.” Whatever your topics were, they were all of interest. The horses looked ready to go.
Way to go and have a good paint out, or in, in Oregon.
1:46 pm
I really enjoyed these. My favorite, Field of Dreams. Did you get this impressionistic effect with palette knife or brush handle or what?
1:54 pm
Steve, Thanks. That one was just a lot of thick paint, by brush, then slashed through somewhat with a palette knife. Glad you like it.
4:09 pm
Favorites: Daytime Dreams, Hopi Girl, Lake Near Wilson…
Thanks for taking us away!
4:39 pm
Thanks for sharing.
Love it!
Aida
8:21 pm
Love the paintings. Your style but refreshing subject matter.
9:01 pm
It’s a claim of my dad too that I share some Cherokee blood, not sure though. I really enjoyed the paintings they are all SO BEAUTIFUL! Fence in a Field is my favorite too along with Land Loving Sun.
8:00 am
Thaks Hyatt, these are really wonderful, atmospheric! I love it when I can feel the air and almost smell the vegetation. I really like Daytime Dreams and Fence In A Field. Thank you for sharing and have a wonderful, successful Oregon adventure!
1:48 pm
We moved from Dana Point two years ago to the Bay Area. But we never really left altogether as we still enjoy your Blank Canvas. And we remember fondly a visit to your home/studio where we saw some of those wonderful Indian paintings.
Pat’s family coming from Wyoming makes these paintings especially enjoyable.
We wish you and yours a wonderful new year. Pat & Bob
7:49 pm
Love the landscapes!!!
8:17 am
Beautiful paintings! Your interpretations of the Native American photographs are marvelous. I have a friend who has been painting the same subject for years. I will show her your paintings!
9:16 pm
The paintings are wonderful!
11:43 pm
Beautiful work Hyatt!! Wonderful!! Loved them all but especially the last one… So warm and gorgeous!!! Awesome work! Thank you for showing them all… Lisa