Donkey Rider

Medium: Watercolor on Paper

Date: 1978

Donkey Rider 

Exploring Duality and Imagination: This Week's Featured Watercolor Painting 

Welcome back to my weekly art exploration! This week, I am excited to feature a watercolor painting that delves into duality, balance, and imagination. This piece is a blend of figurative elements, inviting viewers on a journey of interpretation and reflection. I called this piece "Donkey Rider." 

Personal Inspiration 

As a nine-year-old child, I spent many evenings in Juarez, Mexico, during the summer of 1948. At that time, the city was a beautiful, vibrant place full of intense colors and romantic images, vastly different from the rural farms of Minnesota and Iowa where I lived, which lacked plumbing and electricity. I remember vividly the donkeys' carrying riders, adorned with multicolored rugs and enormous hats, sparkling with silver, gold, and precious stones, and sometimes playing guitars. These scenes captured my heart and fueled my imagination. 

The intricate carved wood, the heavy, twisted ironwork around gardens and over windows and doors, and the lush trees and plants on the streets and in the gardens were unlike anything I had ever experienced. My next adventures would not come until my years in the U.S. Army in Europe as an adult. This picture encapsulates the vivid mix of stimuli from that early, unforgettable time. 

Duality and Balance 

In "Donkey Rider," I split the face in the painting into two contrasting halves: one deep blue and one white. This dichotomy symbolizes the concept of duality, representing opposing forces or complementary elements such as night and day, conscious and subconscious, or reason and emotion. The balance between the two sides suggests harmony and the coexistence of these dual aspects within a single entity. This theme of duality also reflects my childhood experience in Juarez, where the vibrant cityscape full of intense colors and romantic images contrasted sharply with the simplicity and rustic life of the rural farms in Minnesota and Iowa. 

Playfulness and Imagination 

The colorful circles and abstract shapes adorning the face add a playful quality to the painting. These elements symbolize creativity, imagination, and the diversity of thoughts and ideas that reside within a person. The exaggerated features and geometric design emphasize a departure from realism, inviting viewers to embrace the unconventional. This playful imagination was sparked in Juarez, where I encountered a vivid and colorful world that fueled my creativity. 

The Donkey’s Presence 

Including the orange-brown donkey below the face adds a layer of intrigue. Donkeys are often associated with qualities such as humility, resilience, and hard work. However, in this context, the donkey's mischievous expression and sideways glance introduce an element of curiosity and perhaps a hint of subversion. This could represent the idea of hidden depths or unexpected characteristics within oneself or others. The donkeys in Juarez, adorned with vibrant rugs and carrying riders, inspired this element, reflecting the rich and multifaceted culture I witnessed. 

Surreal Juxtaposition 

Combining a human-like face with the body of a donkey creates a surreal and thought-provoking image. This juxtaposition symbolizes the blending of human intellect and animal instinct, highlighting the dual nature of beings. It also invites viewers to consider the interconnectedness of various aspects of identity and the fluid boundaries between them. This concept also echoes my experiences in Mexico, where the blend of traditional and modern elements created a surreal and captivating atmosphere. 

Symbolism of Colors 

• Blue: Often associated with calmness, wisdom, and introspection. The blue half of the face represents the contemplative, rational side of the personality. 

• White: Symbolizes purity, simplicity, and potential. The white half signifies openness, new beginnings, and the unmarked potential within each individual. 

• Orange-Brown: This color evokes warmth, earthiness, and stability. The donkey’s color grounds the image, providing a connection to the physical and practical aspects of life. 

The vibrant colors in the painting draw inspiration from the vivid hues of that city, where intense and romantic imagery left a lasting impression on me. 

Overall Narrative 

With "Donkey Rider," I aimed to create a painting that encouraged me to explore the interplay between different facets of existence. It suggests a narrative where imagination and reality coexist, where each part of the image contributes to a greater, unified whole. My childhood journey in Juarez, filled with contrasting elements and vibrant imagery, served as a foundation for this exploration. 

In summary, this watercolor painting is a meditation on the multifaceted nature of identity, the harmony between opposing forces, and the rich, imaginative world that lies within and around us. The playful yet thought-provoking imagery invites viewers to engage with their own interpretations and reflections, much like my own time in Juarez.