Tonto was Potawatomi

I received a number of emails from viewers of my last postings. One viewer asked if all my work was based on my own view of things. I suppose the question was “do you paint traditional scenes or people?”

Of course, although I do not consider these as truly creative, at least for my taste. Sometimes the canvas (in this case the skin of a wild hare) dictates what I see best fitting the form. Here is an example:

This canvas made me think of a bird in flight. It is too narrow and elongated but has a lot of symmetry. But I do not paint birds or scenery, just like I do not photograph landscapes. I am a street photographer who needs human expressions and behavior.

So, after a few strokes of the palette, I ended up with a compromise between a human and a bird!
Interestingly, while Tonto, the companion of the Lone Ranger, was Potawatomi originally from Michigan, it is told that the name Tonto was chosen as sidekick to the Lone Ranger inspired by Tonto Basin in Arizona.

So this painting has an indirect affiliation to Arizona, where my art work now finds its inspiration.

February 18, 2018
©Vahé A. Kazandjian, 2018