Watching Rider

This work emerged from a reverence for endurance, dignity, and the bond between people and place. At its heart sits a contemplative rider, enveloped in a blanket that honors the rich visual heritage of the Southwest. The rider holds a peaceful stillness as though attuned to generations past.

Not sure how I really feel about going this direction with subject matter. It definitely speaks to the region and there is already a strong representation of this subject. At least it is a quick stab in this direction. An opportunity to explore sky in a different vein from my usual. Also attempted a bit of palette knife painting. There is an intention to be a bit more rich and luscious with the paint application.

Behind the figure stretches a luminous sky, populated with flowing, abstract forms that suggests the drama of late summer monsoons sweeping across northern New Mexico’s vast expanse. A moment when storm clouds gather or twilight settles over the mesa. The rider’s gaze drifts inward rather than outward, embodying a quiet dignity and self-possession.

This piece hopefully speaks to enduring strength, the persistence of cultural wisdom, and the inseparable relationship between heritage and homeland. It attempts to affirm Indigenous continuity within this landscape not wholly as an echo from history, but as a living, breathing reality that shapes the present moment.