Monday, September 26, 2011

Native American Paintings


This is a painting by abstract expressionist Fritz Scholder, who was one fourth Native American. It is entitled "Heart Indian." Why do you think the painting is called that? Is "Heart Indian" like other images of American Indians you have seen? How is it the same? How is it different? I love the bright colors and bold brush strokes the artist uses. Here is another one of his paintings, titled "New Mexico No. 1."




Abstract expressionists do not try to paint things as they look, but instead try to give a feeling of something.
They use bright colors and bold strokes.

Compare the painting to the photograph of the New Mexican landscape, below.
How are they alike and different?


Please submit your Comment below. Be sure to include your name, section and date.

59 comments:

  1. I think Fritz Scholder's painting is called "Heart Indian" because it shows the Native American as he is on the inside, in his heart. The painting is different from others I've seen of Native Americans because it is so bright and bold. Most paintings I've seen of Native Americans have shown them in animal skins, and most of the painting is various shades of brown and red. This painting, however, covers the rainbow. However, "Heart Indian" is like other paintings of Native Americans I've seen because the Native American is solemn and unsmiling. He also has on an elaborate headdress, which is another element I often see in paintings of Native Americans.

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  2. The comment above was posted by Sarah Fields, 8R3, on September 27, 2011.

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  3. Maeghan Korte 8R2
    I think this painting is called “Heart Indian” because the Indian in the painting was an inspiring Indian that helped others. It is different from many other paintings I seen because it isn’t a detailed painting. It’s similar to other paintings I’ve seen because it is an ordinary picture of a random Indian.
    The painting and the photograph of the New Mexico landscape are similar they both look alike. The Picture is in detail because it is the real landscaping. The painting isn’t as detail because it’s a painting, it can’t be exact because it was a photograph.

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  4. It might be called "Heart Indian" because it looks like its a indian and it is really a indian and that is how they dressed and looked like. It is same because the jewelry on the indian and it is different because of the face paint.

    They are different because the second one it has no land but in the second it has land and it looks different because the last doesn't have all the colors as the second photo.


    Breann Springer 8R1 September 27, 2011

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  5. I think it is called that because the painting represents the heart and soul of an indian. Yes, it is like the other paintings of indians because all the other pictures were bright and colorful.
    They both are about the exact same thing but on is all colorful while the other is all plain like a photograph.
    ~Jaime Deardeuff 8R1 9/27/11

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  6. I think it is called that because for one it's and Indian and to there are some that heal things and fix them and that's what i think it is. No because I usually see them on horses or something like that. To me the paintings are the same because they look like landscapes. They are different because you can actually see the landscape.
    Megan Andrus 8R1 :) Cool

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  7. I like what you said, Sarah, about how it shows what's on the inside, his heart.

    Mrs. Rice

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  8. Alexis Leach 8R1*

    1.I think he is called the "Heart Indian" because he is the leader of all indians so he's kind of like the heart of a body. Controls the rest, otherwise we aren't alive. The heart indian is somewhat similar to the other pictures i've seen of indians. But not exactly like them. Its the same because of the clothing he is wearing and it is different because it looks like he's dressed a little better.

    2. They kind of look the same because of the bottom colors. They look like the ground in the second picture. Also because the mountains in the second picture have a lot of color. Also the colors on the first picture look like they make a hill, and the top if the picture is blue. Like the sky of that in the second picture. They look different because of the second painting it has green bushes and stuff on the ground. Also, The first picture kind of looks like it has the sun rising up over the hill.

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  9. Gabriel Calixto
    8R4
    Sep 27, 2011

    I think the painting was called "Heart Indian" because the native American in the picture was fully Native American or he believed that he was an Indian at heart. In the next painting and photograph they are alike because they both have a landscape printed on them. The photograph has more detail and uses regular colors, while the painting has bold strokes and has very bright colors.

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  10. I like the pictures too because the colors are bright and the way they go together. I think that it's called heart indian because of how cheerful the indian looks like and because of the bright colors. The pictures that i have seen, the indians are sad or serious and the colors consist of browns and reds and colors like that.I think that they might be similar is how the artist has the indian dressed. Some are wrapped in a blanket and some have feathers in their hair. It is different because of the way the cloak is colored. I've seen cloaks on indians that are brown or made of fur. The landscapes are alike because they show the same thing. The differences to me is that the second one looks more natural than the first one. Alaina Gray 8R1

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  11. I think that the indian picture is called thee heart indian because, it uses bright colors to symbolize peace and comfort. I think that the expression on it's face also shows that it also not going to hurt anyone.

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  12. Olivia Stedman 8R1
    I think the painting is called "Heart Indian" because the artist who made it was part Indian and he held the Indian culture in his heart.
    The painting and the picture of the New Mexican landscape look almost the same except for the fact that the painting has brighter colors than the photo.

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  13. Madi Yungck 8R1 9-27-11

    I think that the picture of the Native American is called the Heart Indian because it is showing the true colors of them and the inside of himself. I haven't seen an Indian picture similar to this before. The New Mexican landscape and the abstract expressionists are similar because they are both showing a lot of colors and patterns and they are different because the abstract expressionists looks like a fun painting to look at colors and the Mexican landscape looks like someone could be looking at this and painting but adding a few details.

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  14. That's interesting, that he might consider himself an Indian in his heart. Do you think there are people who aren't native Americans but who consider themselves akin to them? I know Mrs. Hawkins really loves Native AMerican culture and art. Maybe she should would consider herself a "Heart Indian."

    Mrs. Rice

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  15. Frankie Nolte 8R1

    I think the painting called "Indian Heart" was called that because the bold colors might show maybe what the Indians heart is feelings. The "New Mexico No. 1" and the New Mexican landscape are alike because they both look like a mountain. They also differ because the New Mexican landscape is an actually a photograph but the painting is well a painting.

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  16. Samantha Klein 8R1
    I think it was called "Heart Indian" because, maybe that was part of his name or maybe he was kind hearted to others. I think this painting is different from other ones because, usually when I see a painting with an Indian is the colors are more dark and most of the time the Indian is on a horse with a bow and arrow.
    The paintings are different by, the New Mexico painting is more bright and eye catching.The other one with the New Mexican landscape is more realistic and has more detail.

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  17. I think that the abstract one really catches the feel of the moment. Though it looks like a mess. The person who painted the indian one might have painted it with his heart. This one is different then the ones i've seen. The ones i've seen are stick figures.
    Bailey Mushill
    8R1
    9/27/11

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  18. Keaton Klaustermeier 8R2

    I think this painting is called "Heart Indian" because its supposed to show that he is not a full indian on the outside, but on the inside. It is not the same as the others i have seen because it is abstract. I usually just see actual pictures without very much feeling. "New Mexico" is different than the landscape painting because the "New Mexico" painting doesn't show the actual land, just how he sees it from his point of view.

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  19. I think the painting is called the the heart Indian because it is a very colorful. No they are usually the paintings i see are not in color or in usual clothing colors. Its the same because the Indian has a serious look on his face the and it seems like they usually do. The painting of the New Mexico and the picture its the same because they both have similar colors. They are different because the painting just shows the feeling of New Mexico not really what it looks like. Colton Farrell 9-27-11 1st

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  20. So, just exactly what do you all think "abstract" means? Do you think the New Mexico painting has more feeling, Keaton, because it's not real?

    Mrs. Rice

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  21. Justin Williams
    8R4
    9-27-11
    I think that the painting was called the "Heart Indian" because the Indian was probably brave and had a lot of heart. One thing i liked about the paintings was the different colors. This picture isn't like other Native American pictures i have seen this one has bright colors and the other ones i have seen have had brown and green colors. One way this picture is the same from the other pictures are the unique designs the Native Americans had.

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  22. 1.) I think the painting is called "Heart Indian" because it shows an Indian that has a big heart. Yes, it is like most Indian paintings I've seen. It is like other Indian paintings I've seen because it has a picture of an Indian with feathers. It is different from other paintings that I have seen because this one is much more colorful and unique. 2.) The photo and the painting are similar because they are both very colorful and show the layers of colors in the rocks. The photo and the painting are different because the painting uses brighter colors than the photo and the painting doesn't have any dirt in it and the photo does.

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  23. Kiera Witschie
    8R3
    September 27, 2011

    1. I agree with Sarah on the "Heart Indian" I think it does represent how he is on the inside. Some people thought Native Americans were bad people, I think this painting shows that some of the Native Americans weren't bad, they were just misunderstood. No, this painting was not like any other painting of Native Americans that I have seen because in the other paintings the Native Americans i've seen were all hunting.

    2. The paintings are the same because for the most part they use the same color scheme. They are different because one of the paintings is of a mountain and the land, and the other painting, to me, is just someone's perspective of maybe colors or just there feelings.

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  24. I think it is called the heart Indian because it shows what the Native American is like on the inside. Maybe he's a very inspirational & lively human being. Most paintings or pictures of Native Americans I have seen are more detailed & more realistic.
    The painting & the photograph are very different. THe photograph is definitely more calmly colored & more detailed. The painting is very vibrant & less detailed.

    Alex Feeney 8H3 9-27-11

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  25. I believe "Heart Indian" is named that because while he is not full Indian, he still has a feeling in his heart that he is Indian. The painting looks like a mess, but a thought out mess. The face of the Indian is abstract, and most Indian portraits I see are of an Indian on a horse.
    The painting titled 'New Mexico No. 1' is just colors in horizontal lines across the page. 'New Mexican Landscape' looks more like an actual picture of New Mexico, instead of just colors.

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  26. I think the panting was called Heart Indian because he felt he was a full Indian. I think the panting are alike because they both look like landscapes on them. One way there different is one has more description then the other one.

    Austin Weaver
    8R3
    9/27/11

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  27. AJ Cafazza
    8R3
    9/27/11
    I think the picture is called "Heart Indian" because it shows what a true Indian chief looked like. It's similar to other Native American pictures because it shows a regular Indian chief, and its different because it's very abstract and not very detailed, and other pictures show Indians riding on horses with cowhide pants riding on horseback and fighting off cowboys. The New Mexico NO. 1 photo looks alike because it shows the bright colors of the mountain, buts it's different because it's not as detailed as the real mountain.

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  28. 8r1 josh ellis
    I think that they call him heart indian because he is 1/4 indian not 100% indian.

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  29. Audrey Richardson 8R3

    I think it is called the Heart Indian because it show the Indian's true colors and how he feels on the inside. It is not like other Indian paintings I have seen because there isn't a lot of abstract Indian paintings. The last two pictures are different because the first one is more bright and colorful and the second painting is not as bright and more dull.

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  30. Katlyn Mock 8R2 9/27/11

    I think the the picture is called "Heart Indian" because it is 100% Native American; a true Native American at heart.

    The painting and photo are similar because you can see different layers and colors. They are different because the photo is what it really looks like and the painting has a meaning as to why it is the colors and stripes that it is.

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  31. Alyssa Lane 8R4
    I think that the painting is called "Heart Indian" because it is showing what kind of person that indian was and what he was like on the inside. No it is not like other indian painting i've seen because most indian paintings only show what the indian looks like and not what they look like on the inside. The New Mexico 1 and 2 are different because one shows a feeling and one shows a piece if land.

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  32. McKenna Geist 8r3 september 27

    I think that the painting is called Heart Indian because when you think about it the Indians were bold and wore bright close and I think that is what the painter was trying to incorporate. I think that the Heart Indian is not as detailed as some of the other paintings that I have seen but it is really the pose I have seen this same pose in many of the Indian paintings. I think that the painting is trying to show the layers of the sand in the photo.

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  33. I think that it is called "Heart Indian", because of how the picture is different. Most of the painted pictures that you see have darker colors. "Heart Indian" has many bright and interesting colors.

    The abstract painting reminds me of ground and a sunset. It represents how beautiful some things can be. It is very abstract, and makes one think. The photo shows how plain and simple things can be interesting. I love the way the canyon (or mountain, whichever it may be) is portrayed. They are the different, because the painting is more lively and colorful.

    Shayna Vogel, 8R1, 9/27/11

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  34. Logan Mushill 8R3

    It is called the Heart Indian because he may not look Native American by the artist is still Native American in blood line of his ancestor. it looks a lot more colorful than some of the ones i have seen, but it looks like other being it's focus with clothes of that tribe. It shows the sky and the land level of the hill. Also the red clay like soil.

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  35. I think that this picture is called "Heart Indian" because the painting came from the heart. This painting is different than all the other paintings I have seen because they use a lot of different bright colors, and in the other paintings the colors are more dull.
    Baylee Hampton
    8R4

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  36. Andy Mathews 8R3
    I think this painting is called "Heart Indian" because it is depicting a rather old looking Indian. I think that when you are putting together that title and the picture, you get an Indian who has been through tough times. An Indian that has been through rough times, that has a big heart, but it has been hurt many times. I think this picture shows how tough the Indians had it. They had constant treaties pushing them off their land. This isn't like regular Indian paintings. It shows something much more beautiful. Not the outside of someone's appearance, but the inside. It shows the love and the loyalty.

    The painting of New Mexico is extremely different to the photo. The painting, titled "New Mexico No. 1", shows bold and bright colors, giving a sense of vibrancy. The photo shows blue sky mixed with barren land, giving a feel for hot, dry weather. You feel warmth from both pictures though. In a personal point of view, I used to live in Colorado, so I saw a lot of open space and mountains, like shown in the photo, so the photograph gives me a feeling of being in my hometown.

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  37. Abbey Little 8R4 9-27-11

    I think Fritz Scholder's painting is called "Heart Indian" because the Indian believed in his heart and had a lot of courage. The painting is different from others I've seen of Native Americans because this painting is full of bright and bold colors that really stand out. Most paintings I have seen before was in sepia or black and white. Normally I see Indians wearing skins or fur but this Native American looks like he is wearing normal cotton clothing. He is also not smiling and is wearing a very fancy headdress, which is often worn by chief Indians.

    The painting and the photograph of the New Mexico landscape are very similar and look very alike. "New Mexico No. 1"(the painting) is has very bright colors and isn't as detailed as the picture. The Picture has very dark and normal colors and you can see the landscaping very well.

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  38. I think the picture is called "Heart Indian" because the indians is showing his true colors . the last two photos are different because they look like they are landscapes of where they lived and the photo that has the mountains could have been somewhere by where they lived

    jarrett lacquement
    8r4
    9/27/11

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  39. lydia eldridge 8r1 9/27/11September 27, 2011 at 7:05 PM

    1.) i think it is named that because indian's where so in touch with the land and bin g in touch with the land in my opinion makes you a lot more in touch with whats in your hart
    2.)no I don't think its very similare to the other indian art work I have sean but considering I have the only other indian art work I have sean is the piasa bird and the suff at cahokio monds i don't think that means very much.
    3.)the abstract and the painting of the mountan are diferant because one is just kind of random and the other is a mountan wich is most likely still there. the painting a the same in the colors that are in the paintings.

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  40. I think that this picture is called the "Heart Indian" because he is only 1/4 Indian, but in his heart he is a full Indian. I have not seen other pictures like this before of Indians, because the colors are different. These photos are alike because they are both abstract, but the first one is more bright than the other.

    Meredith Buller
    8R2
    9-27-11

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  41. I think it is called "Heart Indian" because it shows the Indians personality and how it felt through colors. It is different because instead of it just showing a picture of an Indian it is using abstract colors, to tell you how the Indian is feeling. It is the same because it is still showing you cultural things about the Indian. The New Mexican has more detail and is not as colorful as the No. 2 picture.

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  42. 8r1 kylie hendricksI think it is called heat Idian because its very colorful.

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  43. I think this painting is called heart indian because the man in the painting is an INdian CHief who looks like he is upset. The artist also covered a wide range of colors, not just the brown and muted reds that are common in paintings about Native Americans
    8R1 Adam Harmon

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  44. I like the Heart Indian because it shows how the Indians were like when they were a live. It also shows what they had to wear when that was all they had.
    Austin Bartling
    8r3
    9-28-11

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  45. Andrew Ickler 8R2

    I think the paintings called "Heart Indian" because it shows the true color of the Indian mans inside. It's different from other Indian because of the many colors. Both are the same image but one is colorful while the other is uses less color.

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  46. I think that the painting is called "heart indian" because by heart he is an indian since he is half indian. The painting is very colorful, bold, and has many lines of color in it.
    I think the New Mexico paintings are alike because they both have many different colors in them and they have many types of lines. It is different because one painting just has bold, colorful lines when the other painting looks like it has a mountain in the background.

    Daria Emerson 8R3 9/28/11

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  47. Samantha Smock 8R4 9/28/11 I think the painting it called "Heart Indian" it came from Fritz Scholder's heart to draw/paint this and it is a true indian. "Heart Indian" is like other paintings because it has the traits of other paintings because it is like a collage of colors. It is different because sometimes painters don't always paint like a collage of colors. The bright colors painting and the New Mexican paintings both have something in common they both have stripes on their paintings. The thing they don't have alike is both of them don't have the same background as the other one does.

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  48. I think that the first painting was named Heart Indian because he was very colorful and it showed his feelings and his colorful personality. The abstract shows you how the indian is feeling not just a picture of an indian. The abstract colors sort of tell you a story about the picture. The landscape picture is different from the other picture because it has less color.
    -Katelynn Johnson 8R1

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  49. I believe "Heart Indian" is named that because while he is not full Indian, he still has a feeling in his heart that he is Indian. The painting looks like a mess, but a thought out mess. The face of the Indian is abstract, and most Indian portraits I see are of an Indian on a horse.
    The painting titled 'New Mexico No. 1' is just colors in horizontal lines across the page. 'New Mexican Landscape' looks more like an actual picture of New Mexico, instead of just colors.
    -Jake Sconce, 8R3

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  50. I Think the picture is called ''Heart Indian'' because it might be representing a indians heart and soul. I don't think that this picture is like any other indian picture this picture is more colorful and not as boring as other indian picture are. I think it may be a little the same because in every indian picture that i have seen they are all wearing them things on there head and having a regular mean look face expression on there faces

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  51. Faith Scott 8R2
    I think that the painting is like that because it symbolizes what the indians looked like. I think that would be the reason of the picture being like that.

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  52. I think it is called that because, the Indian looks wise. The image is the same as another I have seen because, there is a person in it. It is different because of all of the colors.

    The paintings are alike because, they both have a lot of colors. They are different because, one has real land and the other is just thick lines with different colors on them.

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  53. Chelsea Moss
    8r2
    10-3-11

    What I think about the painting is symbolizing how bright the Indian is. What I also think is thatthis bright colors show what his personality is.

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  54. I think that it is titled "Heart Indian" because even though he is not a full blooded indian he still believes that he is.
    I think that the other painting looks like the photo because the colors change in the painting just like the photo.
    Alec Hilliard 8R3

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  55. its is a bright painting and i like it and it symbol of freedom i think. vincent baldaino 8r1

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  56. I think that it is called the "Indian Heart" because the heart is deep inside you and it is showing how he looks and how he feels. The painting is not like other Native American photos I have seen. It is different because of its brightness and colorfulness unlike all the other Native Americans photos I have seen. It is the same because it still a Native American that doesn't smile and isn't wearing fur from dead animals. The New Mexican landscape photo is different because it is less realistic and has more detail than the other colorful painting. They are similar because they are colorful and both look like landscapes.

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  57. My name is spencer zeisset uncase you have not noticed many people says that this picture encases a indians heart. But i think it encases a indians soul and spirit because most indian or Native americans speak more of there spirit and soul then there heart or pride. The colors are bright and bold and from being in art school. we were taught that brighter bolder colors produced a braver and bolder character. So this is what i think of this painting.

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  58. Melissa Pipkin
    8R4
    I think that the painting is called "Heart Indian" because it looks like the painting is of an old man who has been through a lot of hard times. I guess he had a big heart as well. It looks like the man is in a colorful version of his native clothing, which most Indians do wear their native clothing in paintings and portraits. This painting is an abstract painting and I haven't seen a lot of abstract African American paintings.

    The first picture of the New Mexican landscape is abstract and looks more like a river of colors than land, but I think it portrays the different colors of sand and the different elevations. The second one is a more realistic version, even though it is very colorful as well. They both show the same thing, which is a colorful version of the lands of New Mexico.

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