Shepherd

Shepherd

28'' x 16.5''

Cloaking the shepherd with a black robe was a big consideration. Painting it black tempted me toward a yellow and gold sky. This I really didn’t want. It would be too cornucopia-like and describe a horn of light rather than compliment the drawing as a rolling back of night. A biographical association impelled the black choice for the cape. As a student Jorge was, on occasion, honored to wear such a black robe with long multicolored ribbons hanging from the shoulders. Thusly attired, he and other students so honored would roam the city streets, caroling. The garment of the figure in the drawing reminded me of that robe. I rely a lot on personal associations and recollections in the selection of colors. Often I'm torn by reasons that fall between or try to juxtapose rhyme and rhythm. I try one, hope it works, and know, at least, that the other can be next on the slate of infinitely colored possibilities.