Mixed Media Painting “Singing Potter”

David Dawangyumptewa is a Hopi/Navajo who says that he would like to be thought of as a painter of mystical or spiritual subjects.  He is a member of the Water Clan and often uses water as a theme.  His paintings are distinguished by his use of jewel-like color and Hopi symbolism.  He often paints on handmade paper as was done in this painting.  The deckled edges of the paper are typical of handmade paper. 

The painting was executed with gouache paints and application of 24K gold leaf.  The image shows a Hopi potter singing over her creation of a Hopi seed jar.  She is beautifully dressed in a colorful blanket, traditional white doe-skin moccasins and a pair of large green turquoise earrings.  The seed jar is a typical reimagined Sikyatki polychrome jar decorated with Sikyatki-revived designs.

The painting is floated on a background mat so that the entire paper is visible and not covered with mat board.  It is signed Dawangyumptewa and dated ’89 in lower left.

Condition: original condition

Recommended Reading: Biographical Directory of Native American Painters by Patrick D. Lester.  This book is currently not available from Adobe Gallery

Provenance: from the collection of Marvin and Betty Rubin