NAVAJO HORSE PLAY

Oil on Panel

12" x 24"

1976

Inspired by the American Literary Classic, LAUGHING BOY, by Oliver La Farge, this painting depicts an impromptu horse race among a group of young Navajo Men, whose love of gambling was so well portrayed in that story of the changes brought on by a clash of cultures and inexorable change. It is from our own private collection.

LUKACHUKAI WOMAN

Pastel

16" x 12"

1975

A portrait of a typical Navajo Woman from my days as a trader to the Navajo at Upper Greasewood Trading Post, between Lukachukai and Tsaile, on the Navajo Reservation. Wrapped in a Pendleton blanket, the silver buttons on her velvet blouse peaking out from the folds, the humorous and pensive expression on her face are all a part of my fond memories of the Diné, The People.

TAOS MAN

Pastel

16" x 12"

1973

This young Taos Pueblo man, wrapped in a soft cotton blanket, is dressed in the way that many were when I first started painting in and around Taos in the late 1960's. The long, wrapped braids, neck-scarf, and Eagle Feather are rarely seen nowadays, except on ceremonial occasions. We are all the poorer as old traditions fade. I used to dislike being told I was painting vanishing cultures. I wanted to be known as an artist, not as an ethnographer. Now, I wish I had painted more of the beauty and tradition that we've since lost, except in the occasional painting or photograph.

BERT DIRTY WHISKER, NAVAJO MEDICINE MAN

Mixed media on Panel

16" x 20"

1974

Dirty Whisker is a family name, probably from a forebear with a salt and pepper beard. I used to stop by Bert's hogan near Cow Springs, whenever I was in the area. We'd sit on the dirt floor and communicate as best we could with our two very different languages. He would show me various bits of medicine he had made, and try to explain to me its uses. I didn't understand his words, but I did understand his willingness to share his knowledge. I traded Bert out of that hat he's wearing in the painting, but couldn't get the hat band he treasured. I still have the hat, here in my studio, and will always think of my old friend every time I look at it.

NIGHT WAGON, TAOS

Oil on Masonite

18" x 36"

circa 1975

For enlarged details, and the story behind this painting, please click here.

LAGUNA EAGLE DANCER

Oil on Panel

16" x 20"

1970

This piece is still in my personal collection, and will remain there. It is, however, available as a Giclée Fine Art Print. Call Thea at 505 982-222 for details and pricing. The great collector Eugene Adkins, of Tulsa, wanted to buy this painting from me when he visited my home in Flagstaff, Arizona, just a day or so after I'd painted it. I refused to sell it as it had special meaning to me, and marked a turning point in my work. I got a lot of ribbing from my friends for not getting into such a prestigious collection at that point in my career, but I'm still glad I have it, and it hangs in a place of honor in my home.

SANTO DOMINGO WOMAN

Oil on Panel

24" x 20"

1972

Oh, how I loved these beautiful, ladies of the Rio Grande Pueblos, their laughing, teasing ways, and their colorful way of dressing. I guess I can't blame them for wanting to be comfortable, and wearing their sweats to town, just like everyone else. I just wish I'd had sense enough to paint a lot more of them when I had the chance. What's that old saying? We get too soon old and too late smart.

Paintings from early in my career have started to become available as early collectors either downsize their collections or pass them down to their heirs. Thea and I have also decided to occasionally release early paintings from our own collection. These vintage and estate pieces have proven to be very well received by our newer collectors.

Call Thea at 505 982-4561 for prices and other information, or if you have an early Farnsworth that you would like to sell or know more about.

(NAVAJO WOMAN)

(NAVAJO LADIES)

(NAVAJO LADY)

PENDLETON LADIES / NAVAJO TRIPTYCH

These ladies were originally an oil on canvas study, 15" x 30", for a large, commissioned, pastel triptych painted back in the '80's. I kept the study in my own collection, and now I’m pleased  to make them available to you as a giclée on canvas. This worked so beautifully that we decided to try it larger.

 Wow. Knocked our socks off.

The ladies are now available as Fine Art Giclée Prints either individually or as a triptych. They are 36" tall. Also available is a same-size giclée of the study at 15" x 30", canvas size, with an 8" x 22" image.  

To order yours, or to discuss purchasing them as individual pieces, call Thea at 505 982-4561, or email her at farnsworth@newmex.com

This is the gathering for the Rooster Pull at Santo Domingo Pueblo, New Mexico, during San Juan Feast day, 1968

NAVAJO WEAVER

Pastel

32 x 32 inches

Sold

Big sister practices her weaving technique, while tending her baby brother. It's cool under the brush shelter, with a traditional Navajo Hogan in the background and the typical landscape under a summer sky completes this painting typical of my early career.

McDOWELL MOUNTAINS, ARIZONA

Pastel

32 x 40 inches

Sold

This was,  virtually, the view from my living room window when I lived at 11105 East Charter Oak in Scottsdale, Arizona in the 1980's. There were houses across the street, but I only had to walk a couple of blocks to get to the still wild desert. This scene is now covered by a sea of houses by.

jf

PALO VERDE

1985

Pastel

32 x 32 inches

Sold

This Palo Verde tree used to grow along North Scottsdale Road, on the way to Carefree. Whenever I mentioned it, people always knew exactly the tree I was talking about. I threatened for years to do a portrait of it. One day I mentioned that threat to a patron who immediately commissioned this portrait. I believe I got the color right on, that special, unique Palo Verde springtime blossom color, in pastel, but can't quite do it justice on the web. The next time I get to Phoenix, I'm going to take a run out Scottsdale Road, just in case "my" tree is still there.

jf

ZUÑI OLLA MAIDENS

Pastel

32 x 40 inches

Congratulations Dan Cracciolo

GUANAJUATO CLOUD STUDY #1

Oil on panel

10" x 14"

NFS

GUANAJUATO CLOUD STUDY #2

Oil on panel

10" x 14"

NFS

Available as a Giclée Fine Art Print

GUANAJUATO CLOUD STUDY #4

Oil on panel

10" x 14"

NFS

GUANAJUATO CLOUD STUDY #3

Oil on panel

10" x 14"

NFS

Available as a Giclée Fine Art Print

These oil on panel cloud studies were painted en plein-air while I was living in Guanajuato, Gto. Mexico, in 1973. My friend and neighbor, Joe Orr, and I spent many memorable afternoons painting the villages and skies surrounding Guanajuato.

Wow. Old pieces are coming out of the woodwork. Must be my age.

Like this lovely old Navajo Lady. I called her Birdlady because she was so small and bird-like. A real Shema-Saani, little grandmother. Lance Wright of Phoenix sent me this image of a brush drawing in oil that belonged to his father, my good friend Don Wright in Flagstaff, whose photographs graced many Arizona Highways Magazines. There's a picture Don took of me painting down inside Oak Creek Canyon on the BIO PAGE. It's a real treat for me to see these early works. If you have any, please send them my way. I'm going to put up an early days page, soon, and would love to include your images. Thanks, Lance.

Posted June 26, 2004

This vintage Navajo Yei Mask painting, from the early 1970's, is now available. in our Taos Gallery and on this site. For information, contact Thea at: 505 982-4561

POW WOW DANCERS

Ink and Colored Pencil

7" x 7"

1976 - Rare

USD $350

This is an unusual little piece, as I have seldom worked in ink and colored pencil, and because I have almost never done anything with the modern Fancy Dancers. Might be a fun way for someone to “Start Your Collection Here”.

jf

ZUÑI RAIN MAIDENS

The pastel drawing shown above was a study for the the oil painting ZUÑI RAIN MAIDENS, now in the collection of Joe and Marty Maierhauser, featured in an article in Tucson's Arizona Daily Star HOME section, on Sunday, November 25, 1979. which included this photo. It is currently available in our gallery as a part of the Vintage Farnsworth Collection.

I used a sepia drawing of this image to make a printed mailer in the 1970's. That drawing is now in the collection of our friends, George and Sheila Ross.

Star Photo by

Scott Braucher

Zuñi Rain Maidens is a  pastel study done in the '70's. 

12" x 9"   $8,000

ART YOU CAN LIVE WITH