Onwards

Onwards is a complicated painting with a lot going on.

It's painted on irregular canvas, consisting of block prints, raw pigment, oils, pencil, inks, and oil crayons. The layers of colors underneath are thick, adding texture, and showing through the top layer of white.

The symbols serve as tattoos symbolizing Courage, Love, Patience, Fearlessness, Knowledge, Consistency, Loyalty, Freedom and Eternity.

The face in the middle symbolizes a clear-eyed Hope for the Future. The face at the top is reflected in "Jersey Summer 2", and comes from a painting of mine done in aerosol on a concrete block.

Chief Joseph's words, "I Will Fight No More Forever" can be read under the thin coat of orange paint above the heart.

Here, by way of symbols, Chief Joseph's words stand to mean, "Don't try to fight for or against fate, as fate can not be manipulated. Focus on your own behavior and actions and allow fate to bless your hard work when it wishes".

That's the message of this painting.