River of Life by Blake Richardson

Can you spot the Bear?

Print measures 11x14, unframed

"

Life is like a river
put trust in the centuries of its
experience going with the flow
following the path of least resistance
let go of fighting the current to focus on receiving
the message, the meaning
take time for peaceful reflection
in the motionless pools away from the currents
to dream of opportunity that lie around the next bend

there will be turbulent times when we least expect it
the river and life are like that
falls that will take great strength to overcome
the strength that is needed to ride the rapids gracefully
like an owls wings ride the air
like a horse in motion rides the land
I am drawn to the permanence, it is there for me always
but not for me alone

the river has a history having served as chariot
for many lives before
provided the visions the message the meaning
for many lives before
all these memories and more will float around each other
on the journey to see"-Blake Richardson

Artist Blake Richardson draws upon his visions in the textures of tree bark, in the formations of clouds, and in the natural shapes of rocks and wood carved by the elements in nature.
Blake will often draw a comparison with his art works and the primitive origins of art.
It is well known that in many ancient cave paintings, the natural forms of the cave walls describe features of the images portrayed. Which leads Blake to believe that in some cases the paintings were intended to define a vision rather than to record a story or event.
Mythologies could possibly then have evolved out of the interpretations of those visions.
  Blake follows in the footsteps of ancient cultures who have developed a relationship with the land.

His objective to develop a sensitivity and an understanding for why they chose specific sites to commune with the spirits in nature. Blake looks for evidence of rock art (pictographs and Petroglyphs) and explores these areas with his camera, so he doesn’t disturb these historical sights. Reflecting on the photographs Blake pieces together his visions, then works with oil paints on the surface of the photographs, to bring into focus what he has seen. The minimal approach he uses to reveal his visions leaves a window open for the viewers imagination to enter and interpret for themselves.
Upon completion of each painting. Blake begins a journey to discover the message that it holds for him. He searches through mythologies of the past and attempt to identify his visions, then draws analogies between his own life and the stories that reveal themselves to him along the way