Wico Hunkake Hihakab Mani

[John Reidy]

It has been a while since I've posted a portrait. I feel this is different from most portraits and I wanted to share.

The title is Sioux, and means in a fashion, "I walk with my ancestors in respect of their ways." From what I understand, there are no english words to accurately translate explicitly.

The subject requested the clothes and the background as they hold meaning to him. He is by birth Irish / Catholic. By choice he is Sioux. Over the last 20 years or so, he has been seeking his path with the Sioux nation. He has become a priest in their family.

The portrait started out at a size of 40" x 60". Three quarters of the way through, my client and I decided to divide the portrait into two panels, which is how I have it represented here.

The background is Bear Butte, a Holy place for the Sioux. An immature Golden Eagle is in the sky. The subject identifies closely with that bird. The field has sage depicted, which is a plant used in religious ceremonies.

I feel particularly proud of this piece. Not for the manner that it is painted or created but because it holds such a true and special place in my clients heart.

[Patricia Joyce]

Hi John,
Very impressive story and very impressive painting. Congratulations on a major work of art! There is allot of atmosphere in the painting, you can really feel the vastness of the land, which I really admire.

[Marvin Mattelson]

Congratulations John. What an epic undertaking. As they used to say in the TV commercials, " You've come a long way baby!" It looks great but I'd sure love to see some close-ups.

[John Reidy]

Thanks, Pat and Marvin. I do plan on some close-ups once I get it varnished and dried, maybe this week.

Missed you greatly at the conference. I don't know yet if I can make it to Philadelphia next year, but I hope to have one or two commissions to enter if I can get them done in time. I should have a pretty free hand with one. The other is a president of a university in robes against a deep, dark background. I hope I can persuade him into a lighter background.

Plus, my daughter is getting married in November in HAWAII, so I may be shy on the funds.

[John Reidy]

Here is the canvas of just the subject (client). I tweaked it photoshop to try to represent the painting as best I could. I hope to post more detailed shots later, as discussed.

[Alexandra Tyng]

John,

What a huge undertaking--literally as well as figuratively! I love the way your subject is portrayed, and the "addition" makes a unique diptych, especially as each panel is a different width corresponding to the size needed for each. IT's like a double portrait, really, except on is a portrait of a significant feature in the landscape. I would like to see some closeups.

[John Reidy]

Thank you, Alex. And, congratulations on your recent award as noted at the PSOA Conference last weekend.

I intend to add some close ups but I must warn all that this is more "painterly" than what I have done recently. The large canvas allowed me the mental freedom to be looser.

[John Reidy]

As promised, here are some close-ups, the head and hands especially. As I mentioned before, this is more "painterly" than most of my other commissions. I couldn't help myself. It was fun and seemed to fit the SPIRIT of the subject.