Monday, November 24, 2008

Opinion - Illustration Friday

Thanksgiving is just a few days away and of course it is a time to count our blessings… to give thanks… I started counting mine a long time ago… I am so fortunate to have such a wonderful family… and friends… and I am so thankful for the creative gifts I have been given…

My job has taken me many places… this week the Museum where I work is closed for the holiday but are showing a film Thanksgiving evening… Trail of Tears : Cherokee Legacy… of course I am thankful that the native peoples provided life for the early European settlers… they taught them how to fish and grow corn and ultimately survive the winter…

So what's with the cows? I live in Jacksonville… named for Andrew Jackson our seventh president… and while I am certain that the USA would not be what it is today… or might not even exist… I am troubled to live in a city that is named after a man who championed Indian Removal… our record with the treatment of the indigenous peoples is appalling and continues to this day… Jacksonville has a long and storied history… and as a native Jacksonvillian… I much prefer our original name, Cowford to what we now have…

Happy Thanksgiving… God bless…

21 comments:

ArtSparker said...

The first thing I thought of was bulls wondering if they'd ever be back on Wall Street...Anyway, lovely use of color and great facial expressions.

Teri said...

A beautiful but surprising subject. The whole compostion and colors are just wonderful. As are your words.

Tomás Serrano said...

Terrifying expresions: it seems a scene from "the Planet of the Cows"... I like this.

studio lolo said...

Another fantastic post! I totally forgot to tie in Thanksgiving this year. Weird because I have so much to be grateful for. Sounds like you do as well :)
I love this illustration and the fact that you mentioned the Native Americans. I have always been drawn to their beliefs and the wisdom of the elders.
A great book is "Wisdomkeepers" by Steve Walls and Harvey Arden.
Have a great holiday!

Anonymous said...

What an interesting story. And we share the same sentiment for being thankful. Love your art work. It is an inspiration to me. Keep up the great work.

steve said...

Beautifully drawn!! The paper is excellent for the medium and color scheme.

Jeope said...

Kick. Ass.

theartofpuro said...

Wonderful works,youe colours are amazing and the subject what can I say...I love cows

theartofpuro said...

Sorry I forgot...Thanks for the comment:)

Poodle Soup said...

nice color use.

yoon see said...

Loving this piece. Great meaning behind:)

soulbrush said...

marvellous.

Lisa Rivas said...

Very clever! Love the colors, composition and tone... plus the drawing ...
Have a great season full of abundance, joy and peace :)
Happy Thanksgiving to you!

isay said...

wonderful colors and i like the way your illustration was on the right side. it gave me impression that there is something more about it -----and there goes the story......

Ohhhh Happy Thanksgiving to you!They dont celebrate Thanksgiving over here but i do celebrate it myself----thanking God for my life and for taking care of my siblings on the other side of the globe.

get zapped said...

Excellent illo! And a great commentary. I see your point and appreciate your bringing this to our attention. Have a very happy Thanksgiving!

Unknown said...

great character!

M G said...

Ah, if only cows could walk upright...there's no telling what kind of world we'd be a part of. Loving the textures and colours in this piece.

trowbridge chronicles said...

I like your cow-acatures. So l learned something today...I didn't know that Jacksonville was originally called Cowford. My syndicated comic strip, called Health Capsules, used to run in your paper. If I recall, the paper cancelled it.

manon gauthier said...

I agree with you, Cowford is a nice name and your drawing also!

Anonymous said...

I really love both this illustration and your reasoning behind it. Very nice!

° said...

Think of how the people of TN and NC
feel where he lived and was born. And i agree with ur opinion of Americas treatment of the Native Americans.
We need to be shot. When u look at the world as a whole you'll notice
Americans aren't the only ones who have treated its native people so badly. Seems to be a flaw in us.