| ~Mona Lisa, like her counterparts Henry Ford at age 2, and My Blueboy are painted on sanded ,spackled wooden cheese hoop tops, and (except for the Blueboy) are a direct tribute and honor to my idol, The Reverend Howard Finister.many of my early pieces, Including the Coca~Cola bottles are painstaking reproductions, and tributes to the man I believe to be the greatest folk artist of our generation. But you know what's cool? The Reverend Finster influenced countless artist to paint,sculpt,build, or what have you in a similar fashion, but at the same time he got across his message of the teachings of Jesus and God Almighty, So there's really no telling how many people have found Christ as their Savior as the resullt of this humble,simple, self taught man. He led a fascinating life, and there are several books and I know of at least one recording of The Rev. himself ,telling stories, folk tales and other items of intrest as he plays along on his banjo and spins his yarns. We here on Earth lost what some people might have considered an eccentric,un-educated,painter of garbage. But as you look closer you see that we have lost a genuine American Hero and Genious, whose every stroke of the brush, or paint "daubed" on with his finger, was truly guided by what I and many others believe to be The Holy Spirit. It's a thrill and an honor to be able to reproduce some of Rev. Finsters work, but I would NEVER ,EVER attempt to convince someone that this work is only a tribute, and I feel God blessed me and I would like to think that Brother Howard would be rather flattered that someone has taken the time to try to get every stroke"just so",and though these paintings make look simple to duplicate..I ASSURE you they are some of the hardest undertakings I have ever attempted! Thank you Howard for bringing so much beauty into this world! |
