Two Recent Paintings

These are my two most recent paintings, excepting failures that is!  The first is of a Kickapoo warrior.

A Kickapoo Warrior - 16" x 12" Centenaire. 

The head band colours are purely imaginary and his complexion seems quite light, this because the guide photo was like this. Other photos I've seen of Kickapoos show them somewhat - not all -  darker.

The Kickapoos are one of the lesser known and least numerous tribes of Amerindians and today there are about 5000, with three or so locations in the Southern USA and one in North Mexico, this latter group remaining true to their original culture. There is a book called `The Mexican Kickapoos'. They originated in the North East of America but were inclined to migrate and this plus the pressure exerted by white settlers, over the course of many years, drove then far South.In the 1870s some were located in Texas and clashed with the US Army. They were regarded as great warriors and although never very numerous, feared and respected by other tribes. I was interested in them and eventually obtained a used ex library copy from an American bookseller of `The Kickapoos' by A.M Gibson.  This is in the fantastic Civilisation of the American Indian Series published by the University of Oklahoma Press with more than 100 titles. Many of my books like this are ex library copies, some  rather battered like this one, but as I'm more  interested in the content rather than condition I'm pleased to own them.

This next one was painted  last Thursday at my AVA weekly session. The subject was `reflections` and as usual we are allowed considerable leeway in interpretation.

Reflections in an Eye - 16" x 12" Centenaire.

I  sometimes paint unusual subjects and  was attracted to the many subtle shades and interesting colours. Colours used  vary from Ultramarine Violet, Transparent Brown, Quinacridone Gold, Quinacridone Coral, Cerulean. Turquoise, Burnt Umber and others., often heavily diluted and allowed to mix on the paper.  I used just two brushes, both Isabey, a 6 travel brush and a 6 round in the normal Kolinsky series.