HUNTER GATHERER 1 – Mixed Media painting hunters-gatherers beach passion

HUNTER GATHERER 1 – Perpetuating wants to collect before your time ends. Painting hunter beach shells.

Interested buyers: Ask at this link for the limited-edition acrylic-enhanced reproductions.

THE PROVERB

Time to
Watch
Dream
Hunt
Enjoy
Accolades
Discover
Good desire
One life
Discern
Reward
Collect
And
Win
Gratitude

THE STORY

When I first arrived in New Zealand, I explored much of the North Island’s East Coast. The blue Pacific, white beaches, quiet bachs, and unforgettable sunrises and sunsets captured my excitement for this new chapter of life.

Photographs I took on Kodak film in the mid-1980s later became the inspiration for my mixed media painting, Hunter-Gatherers 1 — a tribute to my love of the beach. (“Hunter-Gatherers 2”  explores the same theme differently.)

The painting evolved over several years — beginning in 1988, reworked in 2013, and further developed in 2015 with the addition of louvres, a heron, and painted shell squares. Like many of my works, it grew as fresh ideas kept coming.

The concept formed as I watched people gather treasures from the shore — shells, keepsakes, food. That simple act of collecting felt deeply human. As I painted, I reflected on how this hunter-gatherer instinct seems woven into creation itself. By adding shells and a pearl, I shaped the piece into a parable about humanity’s enduring desire to gather and hold what we value.

We all hunt to gather

It’s natural to hunt.

When you think about it, we’re all gatherers in one way or another — searching for meaning, knowledge, love, food, faith, achievement, or connection. Life keeps moving until our time is done, and then the baton passes to the next generation.

We hunt for money, peace, purpose, God, answers to disease, stars in the sky, the perfect cake for our children — even simple shells along the shore.

I found myself hunting shells at Omaha Beach in New Zealand, and from that simple act, the parable for this mixed-media painting was born.

The philosopher’s thoughts

Consider the philosopher searching for meaning, the believer longing to please their God, the businessperson pursuing profit, the politician seeking victory, the humanitarian serving the poor, and the scientist exploring the universe. In different ways, we all hunt.

The lion hunts to feed its young. The kingfisher hunts a lizard for dinner. A young woman may seek love. An alcoholic may chase relief from pain. Again and again — we all hunt.

Yet desire can turn dark, even * evil. Some hunt from jealousy, envy, or pride — seeking to harm, deceive, or destroy. These are destructive pursuits. Still, even here, we see the restless instinct to chase something.

Most of us, though, hunt for peace, security, love, and purpose — to build a home, create belonging, and gather what gives life meaning.

So perhaps the real question for every hunter-gatherer is this:
What am I truly pursuing? What do I hope to gather before my race is run and I stand before my Maker?

Yes, you too are a hunter-gatherer.

* A destructive power overruling good.

STATUS and MATERIALS

ORIGINAL SOLD * 
Painted with artist oils, acrylics, watercolor airbrush, gesso primed New Zealand hardboard: gloss dammar and Iso Guard varnish protection.
* Original and Limited Edition reproductions are supplied with Provenance, coded Authentication of Sale Certificate, and maintenance/care information.

25 LIMITED EDITION “ACRYLIC ENHANCED” FULL-SIZE CANVAS REPRODUCTIONS
Please ask about the price.

75 LIMITED EDITION CANVAS REPRODUCTIONS * 
Unframed sizes | 960 x short side – $960  |  650 x short side – $650
Printed on long-life archival canvas. Protected with two coats of UV archival spray.
* Stretch-mounted reproductions will incur added charges for mounting and freight.

OPEN EDITION POSTER ART PRINTS * 
Unframed sizes | 594 x short side – $120
* Posters printed on fine art papers and treated with two coats of UV archival spray.

FASHION and PRODUCTS

Images from “Hunters and Collectors 1″ will be exhibited on multiple product lines at Fine Art America

SHIPPING

• Includes insurance and package/handling fees.
• The Original and Limited Edition reproductions ship with the Provenance-coded Authentication of Sale Certificate and maintenance information.
• Poster art prints ship in insured tubes.

AWARDS