The abstractly rendered settings of Jeremy Winborg’s portraits of Native Americans coalesce into expressive, finely rendered faces illustrating their belief that we are all one with nature, made of the same stuff.
Speak Softly and Carry a Big Gun, oil, 60 x 37"
The educator and philosopher Luther Standing Bear (1868-1939, Sicangu and Oglala Lakota) wrote, “The American Indian is of the soil, whether it be the region of forests, plains, pueblos, or mesas. He fits into the landscape, for the hand that fashioned the continent also fashioned the man for his surroundings. He once grew as naturally as the wild sunflowers. He belongs just as the buffalo belonged.”
Winborg had been discouraged from painting figures early in his career although the desire to do so always remained strong. His interest in Native American culture was also strong, and one day he was inspired to paint his niece, Layla, whose mother is Navajo, attired in Native dress. The rest, as they say, is history. His interaction with Layla inspired him to seek models with whom he can relate and who bring their own personalities to his paintings.
Canyon Dreamers, oil, 34 x 48"
For his exhibition Grit & Grace at Legacy Gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico, running August 26 through September 5, he has provided background information about his paintings that illuminate his process.
Speak Softly and Carry a Big Gun depicts a Native elder in full regalia, the details of which Winborg has rendered meticulously while his shirt and leggings devolve into expressive, abstract strokes of color. He comments, “My model for this painting is a kind-hearted, soft-spoken gentleman. I wanted to portray the elder of the tribe with a stern look, but trying to get him to look tough was a challenge at first because he’s such a gentle man. Once we broke the ice, he was able to start scowling, but he was still all smiles between takes. The people I usually respect the most in life are soft-spoken and kind-hearted but firm when needed, just like my model here.”
Quiet Reflections, oil, 52 x 36"
The background for Canyon Dreamers was inspired by scenes he saw on road trips with his family (his wife, five children and their dog). As in many of his paintings, the detail and abstraction are animated by the warm light of the setting sun. —
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