Feather Collection
Embark on a profound exploration of symbolism, tradition, and reverence through the singular focus of a single eagle feather. This remarkable art collection pays homage to the sacred significance of the eagle feather in indigenous cultures across the Americas, weaving together threads of spirituality, history, and artistic expression.
Blue Feather, Oil on Canvas (2015) A simple painting of a ceremonial eagle feather. However, I wanted to restrict myself to painting in only one color, blue. Shades of blue and gray were used as a substitute to the usual “colors” of the feather and ribbon. My studies to lay out the painting showed me that the size of the painting would not be any “standard” dimension. I also wanted to start with a black canvas. So, I purchased black canvas and stretched my own canvas to the dimensions that would better highlight the subject. This was my first attempt to ever use black canvas. The feather has a subtle silhouette or halo of white. The leather strips connecting it were modeled from sowing measuring tape, held in front of a fan. You can see the multiple turns and flips and reversals of the ribbon and even that the ribbons intertwine and split casting shadows on each other. You can also notice that the strips have no thickness and twist and turn often. I entered it into an art show and didn’t win, place, nor did I even get a ribbon. It was very disappointing. A few months later I entered it into an art show at the University of Oklahoma and won first place. I put it on display later and the Chief Justice of the Chickasaw Supreme Court called me and wanted it. I turned her down. She later called back and told me that the Chickasaw Supreme Court promised to hang it in a prominent position, and that this was a huge honor as the only other painting purchased was a priceless tribal treasure. The painting now hangs at the entry doors of the Chickasaw Supreme Court in Ada, Oklahoma.
Sunset Feather, Oil on Canvas (2018) This painting was a bit of a release as I wanted to re-paint a ceremonial feather, but this time in full color. The feather has yellow, reds, browns, blues, and every other color of the rainbow. I wanted to do the ceremonial ribbon different than last time and in this instance I used long strips of white leather. You may note that there are much less twists and turns than the prior painting as leather is much more stiff and has thickness. The strips intertwine in the wind. Once complete, and framed, I stood back and thought it needed something so I used the same colors from the feather to paint an orange Oklahoma sunset. Oklahoma has the most beautiful sunsets.