Strength

The power to resist strain or stress. Durability. Moral or intellectual power. Capacity for action.

At nine years old Inger Catherine came to America with her mother and six sisters and a baby brother. Seven weeks at sea. Three older sisters buried along the way. The baby brother also lost. Traveled in the Murdock Handcart Company. Weaved carpets, linens, and cloth. Gleaned wheat fields for flour and chicken feed. Sheared sheep an average of 50 sheep per day.

Robert Henri in his book The Art Spirit said, “All art that is worth while is a record of intense life, and each individual artist’s work is a record of his special effort, search and findings, in language especially chosen by himself and devised to best express him….”

An artists strength is sometimes determined by the ability to grow and learn and continue to create. Just doing the work. Here are two paintings of pioneer women that I’ve been working on lately. Hopefully capturing their strength.

The power to resist strain or stress. Durability. Moral or intellectual power. Capacity for action.