Sunday, February 22, 2009

Understanding Art of Norval Morrisseau (Part IV)

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- 1960's PERIOD-

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Scanned image of the untitled painting/drawing on birch bark, 3.5"x12.0", © 1960 Norval Morrisseau /Click on image to Enlarge/


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Digital photograph of the untitled painting/drawing on birch bark, 3.5"x12.0", © 1960 Norval Morrisseau /Click on image to Enlarge/
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"Like the great Spanish artist Pablo Picasso**, Norval Morrisseau could draw spontaneously, never lifting his pencil until the image was complete."
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The above digital photograph shows the uninterrupted flow of the artist's brush strokes so evident in most of his paintings - an important detail that is lacking in the scanned image of the same Norval Morrisseau's painting.
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It is interesting the way Norval Morrisseau took advantage of the imperfection (puncture) of the birch bark to place the eye of the petroglyphic image of a shaman who is receiving spiritual powers from Creator. The other image of the shaman is actually the same shaman in a dream state or it could represent shaman getting spiritual powers from a parallel universe. Also, two shaman images could represented one shaman in different stages of spiritual development.
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Line pattern within a division circle represents the environment. Division circle itself represents all dualities of the world: good and evil, man and woman, day and night, weak and strong etc.
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Note: There is not any specific way to describe the art of Norval Morrisseau. The text included herein is just one way of experiencing his art. Norval Morrisseau's art can be experienced in so many different ways depending of the subject matter and the knowledge and spiritual inspiration of the viewer.
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** - Pablo Picasso /a Spanish artist, who lived in France. An extremely influential artist, he produced a prolific number of artworks in his life. He lived 1881 - 1973, and had several painting styles which influenced his art./
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Reference postings:
* Understanding Art of Norval Morrisseau (Part I),
* Understanding Art of Norval Morrisseau (Part II)
* Understanding Art of Norval Morrisseau (Part III),
* Norval Morrisseau Birch Bark Collection (1960)
--- Collector's Opportunity of a Lifetime &
* Norval Morrisseau Mediums VI.
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>>> More samples of Norval Morrisseau's drawing and painting techniques will be presented on NORVAL MORRISSEAU BLOG soon!
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~ The painting in this posting: "Untitled", drawing/painting on birch bark, 3.5"x12.0", © 1960 Norval Morrisseau /Private Collection/
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5 comments:

Anonymous said...

It is nice to see birchbark drawings from the 1960 time period. I have several from this time era as well that were collected over 30 years ago when they were not collectable items like they are today. Thank you for sharing these images with us. It brings more authenticity to the ones I own seeing that someone else owns similar ones.
These birchbarks will one day be the real stars of the show. They show a time when Mr. Morrisseau was doing the art for the love of it and not for making a income.
These are true genius.
Thank you again Blog Master,

Arthur McDonald,
Toronto,Ontario,Canada

22 February, 2009 13:45
Spirit Walker said...

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Due to the fact that Norval Morrisseau had ability to draw spontaneously, never lifting his pencil from the paper until an image was complete and due to the fact that he applied the same technique while painting (Pablo Picasso had it) it would be almost impossible that someone can create so much Great art that is attributid to Norval Morrisseau if Morrisseau really didn't do it.

Why would someone create mesterpieces attributed to Norval Morrisseau and not try to make name for himself/herself?

I my opinion all the stories about fakes are just to give some galleries "advantage" when selling Norval Morrisseau works.

If I had a venue for showing the public what I know everyone would be able to see that the best signature of Norval Morrisseau lays in paint application on the face of the canvas/paper and not in the way pieces of art are were signed. Of course that signature(s)is/are also important but not as important as the painting technique.

As Jack Pollock said: "...Norval, with his incredible ability with the formal problems of art (colour-design-space) and his commitment to the world of his people, the great Ojibway, give one the sense of power that only genius provides... It is sufficient to say that in the history of Canadian Painting, few have, and will remain giants. Norval shall."

- If someone wants to challenge me by sending me images of the front and of the back of the piece(s) of art you have in your collection(s) I am available at spiritwalker2008@gmail.com or at "Skype" (user name spiritwalker2008).

Thank you for your attention.

Meegwetch, SW

22 February, 2009 18:54
Anonymous said...

I was hoping that sometime the blog master will do a article on the understanding of the birchbarks that are posted on here. I would love to learn more about these drawings and paintings.
Thank you

23 February, 2009 14:12
Anonymous said...

There seems to be a very strong spiritual energy coming off these birchbark images. They must be very sacred and important to Norval.

25 February, 2009 09:39
Anonymous said...

Thank you for posting these images on your blog. I have purchased a few of these birchbarks years ago directly from Norval and continue to enjoy them to this day.
Long live the legacy of Norval!

Erin H.
Thornhill,Ontario

25 February, 2009 13:47

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