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Why I Paint Kachinas

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WHY KACHINAS?

“I was born in Williams, Arizona and grew up in Northern Arizona, in the shadow of the Navajo and Hopi Reservations.

At the age of nine, I visited Taos, my mother’s birthplace. In the galleries of Taos, I realized that I would be an artist.

Following High School, I studied independently, and painted in my spare time while working at jobs that included managing a small private museum and Indian shop, working as a trader on the Navajo Reservation, and as Preparator at the Museum of Northern Arizona, under Kachina expert and author Barton Wright.

In 1967, I began camping and traveling among the Navajo and Pueblos at every opportunity; sketching, painting, and attending ceremonials.

In 1968, I decided to devote myself to painting full-time. I continued painting Indian and Indian related subjects for the next ten years, with a year off to paint in Mexico in 1973…”

👉To see more and read the rest of this cool story, click here

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“This Kachina appears in mixed dances and is named for the sound he makes, chanting Holi – Holi. With his eagle feather ears, carved in this example, like the rest of him, from the root of a cottonwood tree, he is one of my favorite Katsinam to paint. I have done many variations in both oil and watercolor. The stripe across the face and behind the eyes is said to represent lightning.” – John
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Journal Entry: July 1st, 2015

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(Farnsworth, far left. Wearing his classic concho belt, cowboy boots, and smoking a cigarette)

After the Kachina Dance at Moenkopi, I drove south to Cameron for dinner, photographing the golden light of evening on the sandstone cliffs south of Tuba City on the way. The hotel at Cameron was full, so I camped again in Fordacho. Back in the late 60s, my friend Dewain Maney took this photograph of Earl Carpenter and yours truly with Stella and Della Peshlakai. That’s Stella pretending to paint us.

To see more and read the rest of this cool story, click here

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Need Notecards?

fine-art-notecards-bird-painting
Harris Hawk, Guarding the Prize Notecards

Guarding the Prize

The Harris’s Hawk is one cool customer—a tough, smart raptor that rules the deserts of the Southwest with its sleek dark feathers, those rich chestnut patches on the shoulders and thighs, and bright yellow legs that really pop. What sets it apart from most hawks is how social it is; these birds often team up in family groups to hunt, working together like a pack of wolves in the sky to flush out and take down prey. In this painting, “Harris Hawk, Guarding the Prize,” you can feel that intense focus and raw power as the hawk stands watch over its hard-won catch, a true master of the wild.

This gorgeous painting is now available as fine art notecards and a classic mug for your morning coffee or tea.

Blank inside, these make great thank you notes, thinking of you cards, and can even be framed and hung! And who wouldn’t want to start off the day with their coffee in this unique mug?

fine-art-notecards-bird-painting
oil painting of Harris Hawk
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We’ve got a great selection of Farnsworth fine art notecards and mugs available at the GIFT SHOP.

HARRIS HAWK, GUARDING THE PRIZE <- original daily painting post

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NIGHT ROSE

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“A RARITY (SO FAR)

Flowers are not a frequent subject on this blog. There is no good reason that I can think of. They are fun to paint. They’re popular. I photograph them a lot, and I’ve painted them much more frequently when working in watercolor. We’ll see. Maybe I’ll paint them more often in the year ahead.

A POEM

Our dear friend, Kayce Verde, has written a poem in response to yesterday’s sunflower daily photograph:

Summer's Ending

SUMMER’S ENDING

OH, LET ME DIE LIKE A SUNFLOWER, HEAD HUNG DOWN FROM THE WEIGHT BUT STILL ATTACHED TO LIFE!
LET ME REMEMBER HOW ONCE I HELD MY HEAD HIGH FOR ALL TO ADMIRE
REMEMBERING HOW I ALWAYS TURNED AND FACED THE SUN
SO PROUD TO BE HIS NAMESAKE.
LIKE HUMANS I HAVE BEEN ASKED WHAT IS MY FIRST MEMORY?
SURELY IT IS NOT WHEN THE SEED WAS FIRST PLANTED
NOR THE FIRST DROP OF MOISTURE THAT SEEPED INTO THE BROWN EARTH.
NO, SILLY, IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I POKED OUT TO THE LIGHT…THAT BLINDING
AMAZING YELLOW LIGHT WHICH I HAVE ALWAYS ACKNOWLEDGED IN MY SHORT LIFE,
ALWAYS LOOKED UP TO!
YO SOY UN FLOR DEL SOL!

Primo, See what your photos evoke? Just couldn’t help myself or maybe it’s just the memory of Thea’s garden, quien sabe? Kayce

Thanks, Kayce Prima” John

Today’s painting is available now—don’t miss your chance.

Art should be lived with. A painting isn’t just something you look at—it’s something that becomes part of your world.

This piece, originally painted on August 30th, 2012, is now available as a fine art reproduction for a limited time.

Canvas. Metal. Tote bags. Notecards. However you choose to bring it home, make it yours before it’s gone.

👉 Click here to see the options & purchase.

Posted on by afarnsworthaday

CLOUDS AND PALMS

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“I awoke to these beautiful, towering clouds this morning. After yesterday’s and last nights rain, this was a pleasant surprise. Cumulus clouds and palm trees have always made a great combination in my eyes.” John

Today’s painting is available now—don’t miss your chance.

Art should be lived with. A painting isn’t just something you look at—it’s something that becomes part of your world.

This piece, originally painted on December 14th, 2012, is now available as a fine art reproduction for a limited time.

Canvas. Metal. Tote bags. Notecards. However you choose to bring it home, make it yours before it’s gone.

👉 Click here to see the options & purchase.

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DRIVING FRANCE

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“The Kachina Show is up and opens tomorrow from 5-7. Thea has done a great job of curating the show, and will be there to help you take home your favorite(s). We took a break when we got home, and watched the French road film Western. Watching the two main characters walk, drive and hitchhike through small towns in France reminded me of this scene that’s been lurking in the back of my mind and in my research since I taught a workshop at Les Eyzies in the Périgord Region of the Dordogne three years ago.” John

Today’s painting is available now—don’t miss your chance.

Art should be lived with. A painting isn’t just something you look at—it’s something that becomes part of your world.

This piece, originally painted on September 1st, 2012, is now available as a fine art reproduction for a limited time.

Canvas. Metal. Tote bags. Notecards. However you choose to bring it home, make it yours before it’s gone.

👉 Click here to see the options & purchase.

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CABIN IN THE WOODS

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“I picked up Betsy this morning, got her cleaned out and re-packed. Now what? I’m down to just three panels, so will head in to LA for more, but i’ll take my time and dawdle along a bit, seeing what there is to see, and showing some of it to you. Hang on, here we go!” John

Today’s painting is available now—don’t miss your chance.

Art should be lived with. A painting isn’t just something you look at—it’s something that becomes part of your world.

This piece, originally painted on December 6th, 2012, is now available as a fine art reproduction for a limited time.

Canvas. Metal. Tote bags. Notecards. However you choose to bring it home, make it yours before it’s gone.

👉 Click here to see the options & purchase.

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MOTEL

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“Yahoo! We made it to Victorville and I’m scheduled to pick Betsy up in the morning. Details tomorrow.” John

Today’s painting is available now—don’t miss your chance.

Art should be lived with. A painting isn’t just something you look at—it’s something that becomes part of your world.

This piece, originally painted on December 5th, 2012, is now available as a fine art reproduction for a limited time.

Canvas. Metal. Tote bags. Notecards. However you choose to bring it home, make it yours before it’s gone.

👉 Click here to see the options & purchase.

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RANCH HOUSE

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“This might be or have been the home of a ranch foreman and his family. Surrounded by Cottonwoods, Chamisa and low lying Juniper, not to mention the occasional rattlesnake. His children might be home schooled, but they also had the advantage of learning ranching, animal husbandry and management of a small business. They would have the opportunity, as well, to learn horsemanship and cowboyin’. Warm summer nights sleeping on the screened porch, the smells of Mom’s good home cooking, the sound of cicadas, water from the well, and Christmas around the old stone fireplace, all make for good memories and good character.” John

Today’s painting is available now—don’t miss your chance.

Art should be lived with. A painting isn’t just something you look at—it’s something that becomes part of your world.

This piece, originally painted on December 7th, 2012, is now available as a fine art reproduction for a limited time.

Canvas. Metal. Tote bags. Notecards. However you choose to bring it home, make it yours before it’s gone.

👉 Click here to see the options & purchase.

Posted on by afarnsworthaday

HAVASU IDYLL

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“This was the view from my spot along the Colorado River and Lake Havasu when I was there in Betsy in February, 2013. A very peaceful and relaxing time.” John

Today’s painting is available now—don’t miss your chance.

Art should be lived with. A painting isn’t just something you look at—it’s something that becomes part of your world.

This piece, originally painted on August 22rd, 2014, is now available as a fine art reproduction for a limited time.

Canvas. Metal. Tote bags. Notecards. However you choose to bring it home, make it yours before it’s gone.

👉 Click here to see the options & purchase.