Pablita Velarde Original Painting titled “Mimbres Turtles” [SOLD]

"Mimbres Turtles" is an original painting by Santa Clara Pueblo artist Pablita Velarde. The painting was completed using mineral earth pigments of the artist's own making, which gives the painting an added textural dimension. When looking closely, the viewer will notice a coarse texture that is quite different from that of the commercial paints used by many of Velarde's peers. It's subtle, but it's definitely visible, and it has an appealing natural look.

In this image, a group of four turtles swim, forming a semicircle. The largest turtle leads the way toward the cluster of plants that rises from the painting's lower border. The three turtles following behind are smaller. Each turtle displays a unique pattern of decorative elements on its shell. As the title clarifies, these figures reflect the style used by Mimbres artists. A wonderful abstract background incorporates turquoise, yellow, and pale pink tones alongside the typical tans and browns. This is a lively and beautiful scene by one of the most significant early Native painters.

The painting is signed Pablita Velarde. It is framed in the painted wood frame that Velarde preferred for much of her career.

Pablita Velarde (1918-2006) Tse Tsan - Golden Dawn was an innovative and influential artist from Santa Clara Pueblo. Velarde was one of the first full-time female students in Dorothy Dunn's art class at the Santa Fe Indian School, where she studied alongside Tonita Peña. These two women are regarded as the first Native American women to support themselves as painters, but it's not just because of this that they are remembered so fondly. It's because of the quality of their works that they have remained so visible in the many years since they have passed. Velarde's works are included in many prominent public and private collections, and she is generally regarded as a significant figure in the world of Native American art. Velarde passed away in 2006.

Condition: excellent condition, one small discoloration in lower right

Provenance: this Pablita Velarde Original Painting titled "Mimbres Turtles" is from a private New Mexico collection

Recommended Reading: American Indian Painting of the Southwest and Plains Areas by Dorothy Dunn

TAGS: Native American Paintings, Santa Clara Pueblo, Tonita Peña, watercolor, Helen Hardin, Navajo Nation, Pablita Velarde