Keokuk, IA Chief of Police Thomas L. Crew and wife Cindy add Keokuk, Sac and Fox Chief to their collection

As an artist, few things are as satisfying as seeing my work placed in its new owner’s home. I thought you too would enjoy this story.

A message from Keokuk

This fall, I received a message from Cindy Crew, wife of Keokuk, Iowa Chief of Police Thomas L. Crew. The couple had been looking online for images of their town’s namesake–Chief Keokuk of the Sac and Fox tribe. They found my article on Keokuk from my 2010 one-man show, Portaits of Honor and contacted me about creating a print of this painting for their home.

I had been wanting to add another piece to my giclee collection to round out the number of images offered to an even 20. When I got Cindy’s request, I knew that Keokuk, Sac and Fox Chief  was the image to add.

Cindy tells me she and her husband were unfamiliar with my work prior to finding the article.  “We had seen the original Catlin image many times,” Cindy says. “My husband and the fire chief in our town both have a print of that painting in their offices. But when we saw the realism of the James Ayers painting, we knew we wanted to have one for our home.”

Keokuk, Sac and Fox Chief by James Ayers

Keokuk is the focal point

“This print is the first thing you see when you walk into our house,” says Cindy. “I am part Cherokee, and we have many Native American artifacts and art pieces in our home. We hung the print of Keokuk so that it’s prominently displayed.”

Keokuk, Iowa Chief of Police Thomas L. Crew

The Crews are also having a replica red roach hair adornment made (like the one in the print) to display next to the image. “Our community has a craftswoman who makes porcupine roaches for pow-wows and she is making one for us exactly like Keokuk’s.”

I’d like to thank the Crew family for their enthusiasm for Keokuk, Sac and Fox Chief and willingness to share this story with my online friends.

Are you interested in adding a print of Keokuk, Sac and Fox Chief to your home? Please see my giclee page for more details: Keokuk giclee by James Ayers

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Modern technology has now reached my studio! I have been spending the last month exploring the world of social media – and have been enjoying meeting many new friends.

I would like to personally invite you to connect with me on Facebook, Twitter or both, to learn up-to-the minute studio happenings, such as:

• My latest studio news
• First-hand photos from shows
• Sneak peeks of work before it is released to the public
• Answers to YOUR questions

On Facebook, you can find me here: James Ayers Facebook page (Please make sure to “Like” the page)

And for Twitter, I’ll be tweeting from the JamesAyersArt Twitter profile

What would you like to chat about?

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August 21^st is the last day of the Honoring the Weavers exhibit at the historic Toadlena Trading Post.

The opening for Honoring the Weavers in Canvas and Bronze was held on June 18^th, 2011 as part of the bi-annual community party at the post.

“Navajo Finery” and “Patterns of Tradition” after hanging in the historic Toadlena Trading Post Museum.

Three of my paintings, along with three sculptures by Craig Bergsgaard, were unveiled at the museum at the trading post, a historic landmark in the region.

Our works were show to the community at the huge fiesta that celebrates the culture and accomplishments of the local Navajo population. This year, attendance was between 900 and 1000 people. I was honored to have my works on display at such an auspicious event.

Some of the hundreds of people who were in attendance on June 18th, 2011 at the historic Toadlena Trading Post

Fuelling artistic inspiration

My time spent researching the historic Toadlena Trading Post and meeting the weavers was some of the most inspirational of my career as an artist.

The weavers of the region create intricate, spectacular textiles, utilizing a palette of only natural wools and relying only traditional tools and methods. My understanding of this group of people has been enhanced by the “living legends” of the area who so generously shared their time and perspective with me and Craig.

Should you have the opportunity before the show ends, I highly recommend you make the trip to  experience the serene community for yourself. (Please see our Toadlena travel guide for directions and ideas on places to stay).

Craig Bergsgaard and I in our “Toadlena Boyz” apparel in front of their exhibit in the museum at the historic Toadlena Trading Post. Toadlena Boyz are volunteers who help tote drinks and plates of food to the elders at parties so the seniors do not have to stand in line.

My works in the historic Toadlena Museum show:

The paintings I included in the show were part of my philanthropic endeavor, the Wopila Artist Guild.

Navajo Finery—SOLD

Click the image for a larger view

In Navajo Finery, I portray a proud Navajo man from the 1870s wearing a classic third phase chief’s blanket.

Before Navajo women developed expertise at weaving rugs in the late-1800s, the weavers created dazzling blankets to be worn as garments and trading. These blankets, handspun, hand-dyed, and painstakingly woven, were valuable commodities.

Navajo Finery by James Ayers
Oil on board
32″ x 24″ $8,500

Patterns of Tradition

Click on the image for a larger view.

Patterns of Tradition depicts the traditional family-based Navajo weaving tradition.

I got the inspiration for this piece after visiting with one of the Master Weavers at the historic Toadlena Trading Post. The weaver, Pamela Brown, told me that one of her earliest memories was the sound of the loom “clacking” as she was seated next to it as a baby.

Patterns of Tradition by James Ayers
30″ x 40″
oil on linen
$14,500

Safekeeping—SOLD

Click on the image for a larger view.

Safekeeping features a c. 1880s Navajo woman wearing a traditional woven dress and holding a lamb from her flock.

Interested in purchasing one of these works? Then you can help Wopila’s mission to encourage Native American youths to explore art.

If you would like us to purchase one of these works, please contact my studio by email here: James Ayers Studio or call me at 928-600-5161.

A special thank you to all who made this museum show great

I thank Mark and Linda Winter for including the exhibit during their big event (which was also their wedding day!).

The wedding of Mark and Linda Winter, proprietors of the historic Toadlena Trading Post.

Had it not been for Mark and Linda’s efforts, there would not be an Honoring the Weavers exhibit today.

I would also like to thank the masterful artisans of the Toadlena Trading Post. Their dedication and skill are an inspiration to all of us, not just artists.

And of course, I would like to thank the benefactors and lovers of fine art. It is only through your support that Wopila can continue to pursue its goal of funding Native American youth art education.

To learn more about Wopila Artist Guild and the Honoring the Weaver’s show, please see the writeup from Western Art Collector Magazine.

High-quality prints on canvas of some of my most popular works;
Your choice of unwrapped (sent rolled) or gallery wrapped framing.

Over the years, I have received literally hundreds of requests to offer my work as high-quality prints.

You may purchase my giclee prints with PayPal or with your credit card; I will ship anywhere in the United States. (For orders outside the USA, please contact my studio: James Ayers Studio.)

Click on the thumbnails below to see details of each work, including available sizes, historical research, and notes about the composition.

Please contact me directly with any questions you might have.

I would be happy to discuss these giclees with you: Contact James Ayers.
Wholesale inquiries are also welcome.

Show celebrates traditional Navajo lifeways

My show celebrating traditional Navajo weaving culture, Honoring Weavers in Canvas and Bronze, is less than two weeks away.

I would like to personally thank everyone who gave their support this project, the first for my new philanthropic organization, Wopila Artist Guild, especially my good friend, Western sculptor Craig Bergsgaard.

Craig and I started the Wopila Artist Guild to help sustain traditional Native American art forms by providing support and funds for Native American youth art education.

The exhibit at Toadlena on June 18^th is just the first of our planned activities.

The show and party

This June 18^th, Craig and I will unveil our creations directly to the residents of the Toadlena Trading Post area. I encourage all art lovers to attend and join in the festivities. Our Toadlena Trading Post travel Guide has all the directions you need for travel in the region.

“We throw a great party here every two years during our summer show,” says post proprietor Linda Larouche. “Actor Wes Studi’s band performs, we have tons of food, and all the weavers and local families come out to have a good time.”

20% of the proceeds go to charity

The 2011 benefit show collection features six images, three of my paintings and three of Craig’s sculptures, each depicting scenes from traditional weaving life.

Twenty percent of the proceeds will be donated to the Toadlena Young Weaver’s Project, a non-profit fund administered by the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian in Santa Fe.

The artwork

I have created three paintings for this show, Patterns of Tradition, Navajo Finery, and Safekeeping.

My many thanks go out to the Navajo weavers who gave me their input on my sketches and created the weavings that inspired these paintings.

Patterns of Tradition

Navajo Finery

Safe Keeping

To purchase the artwork

This exhibit is for a great cause. If you have interest in purchasing one of the two remaining paintings, please contact me: contact James Ayers Studios.

UPDATE: Guardian Warrior has been sold.

Available at my newest gallery representative, Hayden Hays of Colorado Springs

The Guardian Warrior depicts a mid-1800s Blackfoot warrior taking aim on horseback while wearing full regalia.

There are several compositional and thematic elements to this painting that make it work and relay its message.

Creating harmony with color

Perhaps the most important compositional element in this painting is the very deliberate use of color. Without a strong color scheme, most paintings will not work cohesively.

The color choices a painter makes are like the armature used by a sculptor: every aspect of the work from then on depends on this foundation.

The starting point for The Guardian Warrior is the triadic color scheme of red, yellow and blue.

Repetition of warm hues creates cohesion

You will notice that yellow and red are repeated throughout this painting. The warm colors appear on the warrior’s clothing, in his face, on the horse, on the weaponry, and in the background.

Image showing isolated warm values: red tones

Image showing isolated warm values: yellow tones

Using these hues consistently throughout the painting sets up a harmony, achieved by the addition of the third color to maintain interest.

Using colors for a punch

The last but not least color in this triadic harmony is blue which I use for the warriors shirt to provide the most significant punch and drama to this painting.

Image showing isolate cool values: blue tones

The yellow repeated throughout the painting allows the blast of blue to stand out—the blue draws attention to the warrior and gives him greater significance to the painting as a whole.

This cool hue plays nicely off the warm hues through the rest of the painting, giving the piece a sense of completeness and cohesion.

Representing history through the details

In my work, I am a painter first and a historian second, but I always try to pay attention to accuracy of history as depicted in my work.

The warrior’s attire provides historical context

The Guardian Warrior is dressed in full regalia, complete with headdress.

The blue shirt he is wearing likely would have been obtained by trade, potentially in the mid 1800s. The brass armband would have also been acquired in trade.

The warrior and horse’s stance portrays purpose

Given that this warrior is dressed in full regalia indicates that he is not engaged in routine hunting—but he is obviously taking aim at something.

Reference work of a chiseled hand and wrist drawing a traditional bow

You cannot help but notice the bow and arrow the warrior is pointing, particularly with the light area in the background around it. He could be aiming at a rival or perhaps he has spied an opportunity to strike at a herd of elk, but that is up for your interpretation as the viewer.

Regardless, you can tell from the horse being at attention that he sees something in the distance as well.

The horse’s eyes and ears are both forward and its nose is flared indicates that there may be some sort of threat approached. Anyone who is attuned to the equine species would understands the wisdom of being aware of what the horse is watching.

Meet my horse model. Notice the attention in his eyes and his forward ears.

You may see The Guardian Warrior at Hayden Hays Gallery in the exquisite Broadmoor resort

Please contact Hayden Hays Gallery to learn more.