The New World

After a very long painting dry spell, painting inspiration has come from an unusual source. I wanted to volunteer with our local 912 Organization and help with their summer camp, The Tampa Liberty School. This was a week long camp for 8 to 12 year olds, teaching them about the founders, the Constitution, Declaration of Independence and economic principles. My past experience doing artwork for elementary school libraries was immediately put to use. I was asked to provide the visuals to help the cause. This painting of the New World was inspired by the school's need for a visual comparison between the Old and New Worlds, (Europe and America). The director gave me a description of the things that should be included and I researched various images to include in a collage type painting. I designed a wall-hanging on canvas and my website (http://www.jlgarcia-artist.com/) cronicals the painting process. However, through this writing I wanted to add my reasoning for the particular images. Of course I started with the 1776 Flag and the name of the school also required the use of the Liberty Bell, but from there I needed to add the religous inspiration, believing that our founders were divinely inspired. I also found descriptions of the Liberty Tree which was a gathering place for our revolutionary founders and Independence Hall to add the permanance of a building as a symbol. "We the People" is a very recognizable symbol of our great nation, but the lower portion of the painting is more about the American experience. The family farm, the abundance of a wheat harvest and how the closeness of family helps to build the American Dream.