Portfolio > Art Studio Work 2019 in Jefferson Texas

Julian Onderdonk’s Blue Bonnet Field, Dusk, Twilight, Morning, and Landscape
Julian Onderdonk’s Blue Bonnet Field, Dusk, Twilight, Morning, and Landscape
Ink on Paper
25 x 26 inches
2019

After living in the State of Texas for about 16 years, I have finally made a piece that celebrates the state that I have fallen in love and can imagine not living here. I was also inspired by the fact that since Texas is so big, there are really many different states of Texas. When I moved to Dallas the culture is very much the west, whereas when I visit Austin a very different culture emerges. East Texas/ the Piney Woods is more a culture of the Southern states. It seems where ever you go in Texas there is a culture that counters this idea that outsiders might think of as a Texas culture. In fact, I had some preconceived ideas about Texas that I let drop quickly after a short visit. I suppose one could interpret a political message in this work too. Think about the redrawing of the congressional districts. Around Austin, it looks like a pinwheel. I am sure other interpretations are valued too.

Other than the state of Texas, I also used the shapes of the bluebonnet flowers as inspiration to some of the shapes that appear in the image. As always, I used words that are layered to make the image.