Tinted Ravens: A Book of Paintings

By Dr. Venetta B. Whitaker

The collection of paintings included in the Tinted Ravens grew out of my personal experiences, my worldwide travels, and my lifetime belief in the power of art as a tool to bring beauty, harmony, and tranquility into our lives. The purpose of this publication is to inspire viewers to engage in multidimensional conversations that enrich their aesthetic sensibilities, recharge their creative batteries, and strengthen every area of their lives. I sincerely believe that when we give ourselves to art with genuine openness, a full circle of feelings enriches our personalities and nourishes the very roots of our being; that art moves us closer to reflecting on our own inner lives.

When I prepare to paint a subject, I focus on a precise point of interest, seeking that secret place where all truth dwells. To be knowledgeable, understanding, and appreciative of the world around us is essential. Hence, I am always in quest of an image storya narrative to express on canvas. The anecdote in the subject of interest might be explicit, concealed, or inexplicable. According to Annette Simmons, To live in this world with purpose and meaning, we must tell ourselves some story of vision that gives our struggle meaning.

As an African American woman, many of the paintings highlight the black experience in America. Some depict animals, flowers, landscapes, and nonobjective objects. Other images in this publication feature people of different lifestyles with whom I have shared moments of tenderness, laughter, tears, and hope. Included as well is an array of quotes, affirmations, reflections, poems, inspirational pathways, and opinion pieces. Hopefully, viewers will study these paintings, and read the collection of inspirational messages with intensity and passion. Feasibly, they will set off on a soul-searching mission ready to use every aspect of their humanity to fully express their creativity while believing, as I do, in arts spiritual and healing potential. The power of beauty cannot be ignored.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Mar 14, 2017
• ISBN: 9781524538620

Dr. Venetta B. Whitaker

Dr. Venetta B. Whitaker is a celebrated artist with a B.S. Decree (Bachelor of Science) in Education from Western Reserve University, and a Fine Arts Degree from The Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland, Ohio. Her Ph.D. is in Administration from The University of California at Los Angeles. In addition, she is a published author, life-long educator, professional storyteller, and art therapist. Whitaker retired from the Los Angeles Unified School District as an assistant superintendent. Her extensive service in education—kindergarten through twelfth grades and beyond— includes secondary classroom teacher, elementary principal, curriculum coordinator, special education administrator, and professorships at the University of California, Los Angeles; University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri; Lincoln University, Jefferson City Missouri; and, The Aga Khan University, Karachi Pakistan. She has traveled worldwide working in refugee camps with troubled and traumatized children in war-torn countries (e.g., Afghanistan, Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, Palestine, Pakistan, Russia and Turkey), among others. Whitaker has one daughter, Venetta Rowles, who is a high school educator in Clark County School District. They both live in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Copyright 2017 by Dr. Venetta Whitaker.

All rights reserved. Paintings, Cover designs, and Visual copyright 2017 by Dr. Venetta Whitaker.

None of the art in this book may be reproduced without permission in writing from the author.

Front cover art, Rap Angels, by Dr. Venetta Whitaker, original watercolor painted in Belize.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017902969

ISBN: Softcover 978-1-5245-3863-7

Hardcover 978-1-5245-8700-0

E-book 978-1-5245-3862-0

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Rev. date: 03/06/2017

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274: www.Xlibris.com

New Ways Publishing House

1-702-882-2853

Contents

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DEDICATION

INTRODUCTION

ABOUT RAVENS

ABOUT THE BOOK

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

THE BLUESMAKER

FOR THE GOOD TIMES

THE JAZZ CORNER

ECSTASY

THE COTTON PICKERS

BOUGALOO DANCERS

THE WASHER-WOMAN

FACES of BLACK WOMEN

SLAVE MOTHER with HER PICANINNYS

THE SAGGER

THE SPRINTER

GARAFUNA DRUMMERS

RAP ANGELS

MAURICE

MAURICE

OTHER PEOPLE’S CHILDREN

BOY With BALL

BAPTISM

CLOISTERED NUNS

LAZARUS

AMISH MOTHER and CHILD

HONEYSUCKLE CLOWN

HOMELESS WOMAN from MOSCOW

HOMELESS MAN of LOS ANGELES

THE STILLHUNTER

INSPIRATIONAL REFLECTION

ROCK FLOWERS

RAVEN FEATHERS

Reflections

10 COMMANDMENTS OF ART

SISTAHOOD

PICANINNY

CLOISTERED NUNS

HOMELESS WOMAN IN MOSCOW

HOMELESSNESS

STILLHUNTERS

Poems

City Birds

Student Esteem

We Wear the Mask

Reach Out for Your Dreams

The Stillhunter

Hypersentience

Inspirational Quotes

Inspirational Quotes

Inspirational Quotes

Inspirational Quotes

Inspirational Quotes

Inspirational Quotes

Inspirational Quotes

Inspirational Quotes

Inspirational Quotes

DEDICATION

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TOCA

Toca. 1973, oil. Los Angeles, California.

After hours of persuading her to model, my young daughter, VenettaToca, agrees to pose for this painting before bedtime.

This book is dedicated with love and affection to my daughter, Venetta Toca Rowles, whose devotion, caring spirit, and appreciation for my artwork inspired me to create this book. Her life achievements as a teacher, author, poet, storyteller, and child actress testify to the full beauty of her own artistic journey. I am profoundly blessed to have Venetta Toca in my life.

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