IF : Detach

As a way to temporarily detach himself from the rest of the flock, The Elder will often choose the high branches of the bare oak so he can keep the others in his sights, even though they are a mere reflection in his eye. He's the wise one, all knowing, all seeing.

Click to see the reflection in his eye.

36"x 36" acrylic on canvas, finally finished today for Illustration Friday's word: detach. I've been so detached from my life lately, I haven't been to the studio!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

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!)