Saturday, February 02, 2008

IF : Blanket


I went to the studio with two ideas in mind for this illustration. This is what eventually evolved three hours later. I then came home and "Googled" 'Native American Wisdom + Blanket' and this is the quote that appeared. I feel compelled to share it.


"Before our white brothers arrived to make us civilized men,we didn't have any kind of prison. Because of this, we had no delinquents.Without a prison, there can be no delinquents.We had no locks nor keys and therefore among us there were no thieves.When someone was so poor that he couldn't afford a horse, a tent or a blanket, he would, in that case, receive it all as a gift.We were too uncivilized to give great importance to private property.We didn't know any kind of money and consequently, the value of a human being was not determined by his wealth.We had no written laws laid down, no lawyers, no politicians,therefore we were not able to cheat and swindle one another.We were really in bad shape before the white men arrived and I don't know how to explain how we were able to manage without these fundamental things that (so they tell us) are so necessary for a civilized society. "
John (Fire) Lame Deer Sioux Lakota - 1903-1976
acrylic, Prismacolor pencils, patterned paper
(click to enlarge...and click here to see another blanket!)

45 comments:

  1. Your painting is beautiful - full of quiet dignity. The skin tones and markings on the blanket are so skillfully rendered - and all in 3 hours! I'm impressed! Isn't it interesting how different cultures can be, especially when it comes to core beliefs. I read that passage and thought how it would be to live that way, and then sadly realized that American society is just too far away from that to ever have it work - we are bred to be possessive and materialistic. Even so, it gives me pause to think, and that's important. Thank you for sharing it.

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  2. Awesome work on the blanket...great take. It looks warm.


    That was a mother goose rhyme! My professor gave us a short list to choose from (about twenty) and I had only heard two. There are many and it did seem like a lot of them were a little creepy...

    again, great work on this piece, it has an inviting nature that I cannot seem to capture in my own work.

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  3. Wow, wonderful and beautiful blanket.

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  4. Such Wisdom, the real kind of smarts. Beautiful painting!

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  5. This is an amazing post! How do you do such heartfelt work in only 3 hours? It makes me sad to think that I have to own a car that has an anti-theft system on it where I live. I can't imagine living in a time where that wasn't the case.

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  6. That statement really makes me think about what went on early in our history to get to where we are today, and it hurts to think about how we just may be "civilizing" ourselves right out of existence.

    But then I look at your beautiful painting and think, if art like this can exist, maybe we'll be ok.

    Thanks for such a thought provoking post!

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  7. What a beautiful painting, she looks so calm and peaceful...and warm..

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  8. Wow, a beautiful piece and such a profound quote. Food for thought...both of them.

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  9. This is wonderful and the 3 hours inpresses me so much! And a great quote to get us all thinking.

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  10. great quote, may someday we can live in a safe community. ur painting deliver the message well.

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  11. The portrait is worderful !
    ... is so sad to think that people learn so little from their mistakes and continue to repeat

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  12. It's gorgeous, Laurel. I love the way you made such a wonderful tribute :)

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  13. thankyou for sharing those words...Its awesome and something to continue to meditate on because of the depth of its truth.

    Your painting has a warmth and dignity

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  14. a powerful portrait...and thanx for these words of wisdom...
    "primitive" population's points of view regarding white people are illuminatng...
    please check my recent post called "papalagi"...

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  15. it is beautiful and perfect for the word. Such expression in those eyes too.

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  16. You did that in 3 hours? Are you crazy? Dang. That's amazing. I'm still in shock. 3 hours? You so captured the dignity of the native american here.

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  17. The more I look at this piece, the more I realize it's a bit androgenous. I'll let the viewer decide if it's masculine or feminine ;) It works either way.

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  18. Laurel, this is amazing! Funny, because I was very close to doing a personal drawing interpretation of deceased Native American sculptor Alan Houser's work--one which showed a mother and child wrapped in a blanket.

    Hey, my friend Matt is drumming up some attention for a comic book project called the "Trickster Anthology"--a compilation of stories from real Native American story tellers, all drawn by comic book artists and compiled in a book, which will soon be published and available for sale (will also most likely be sold at the Washington DC Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian). Anyhow, since he is the originator of this project, he's featuring art with a Native American theme at his Trickster blog. Drop him a line and I know he'd love to feature this painting at the blog (it's listed in my bloglines).

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  19. The part that draws me to this most is the work of the pattern on the blanket. I know that may seem strange but seeing the strokework and the 'action' of each patch is mesmerizing...

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  20. A warm and beautiful portrait!!! and the quote is so poignant!!! "Civilization" needs what it's lost- and fast.

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  21. yikes, lolo! we BOTH went serious this round...what a blanket can conjure up, huh?

    this is super...i love the dark shadowy side, that defines her face, her form...and that color palette. feels like you scraped it off canyon face somewhere out in AZ... :)

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  22. they are so SO proud, lolo...you just totally have to know that. ty for the visit! :))

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  23. This is a strong, beautiful piece!!
    The blanket, her face, the atmosphere! Wonderful work! A wonderful piece on the people of the earth!

    www.indigeneartforms.blogspot.com

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  24. You have given him a humble nobility. This is wonderful work Laurel.

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  25. Love the painting, love the quote!

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  26. wonderful find and great artwork. this is a beautiful tribute to history!

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  27. i love this post. and that one fo your dog in the blanket too!

    i like what sketched out said. theres so much hurting and even damning in history particularly in the 'civilization'...but your art, my goodness! they make it so wonderfully tender....

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  28. I love the color combinations you used in this enticing portrait!

    You make us reflect and think, Laurel, thank you for sharing this!

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  29. love the expression on her face. love the colors. awesome painting!

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  30. Wonderful painting, wonderful sentiment! Thank you for sharing! :)

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  31. Oh Yes, civilization has a lot to answer for. I love your noble savage, very dignified.

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  32. Both the painting and quote are beautiful. I like your color scheme. The blues in the hair work wonderfully. I like way you rendered the pattern on the blanket--the simple white brushstrokes work great.

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  33. This is so beautiful. I love how you capture emotion in your paintings. I really like your use of shadow here.

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  34. oh my goodness this is truly awesome is what i shoud've said. WF to you lolo.

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  35. Very nice painting Laurel.
    Flora gave me the "love you award" and I am passing it to you. :-)

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  36. she is very moving. great job!

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  37. Thanks for sharing this. Really makes you think.

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  38. It took you only 3 hours, congratulations ! Wonderful piece, full of history and culture !

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  39. Very nice work and feel like it is a very warm blanket.

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  40. I did see this the other day but wanted to return to comment. truly a lovely painting. the strength is in the face. the blanket is like the earth, the foundation. at least that is what it says to me

    ascenderrisesabove.com/wordpress

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  41. Thank you very much for your warm and positive encouragement. Thanks a lot. Have a great weekend.

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