Shaman
Shaman
By Jonathan McAfee
Shaman is a deeply captivating, soulful, and visually radiant 16x20in. oil, acrylic, and pastel painting on canvas by Evergreen, Colorado artist Jonathan McAfee. This vertical portrait features an Indigenous spiritual figure gazing forward with a steady, commanding presence, encircled by a halo-like arc drawn in vibrant pastel lines. The work beautifully expands upon McAfee's signature style by juxtaposing a deeply serious, texturized portrait against an exuberant, high-contrast backdrop, turning a classic Southwestern figure into a complex and celebratory contemporary masterwork.
McAfee showcases an exceptional handling of mixed media, seamlessly synthesizing heavily layered, sculptural oil strokes in the figure with flat acrylic segments and expressive pastel linework. The figure's weathered face is rendered with an intense, expressive impasto—using fractured tones of crimson, warm sienna, lavender, ochre, and pale turquoise to carve out a look of profound wisdom and resilience. Layered strands of white beaded necklaces rest against rich ochre and deep burgundy garments, anchored by an arching pastel aura behind the head. Set against a dramatic, two-toned background of crimson red over a dark earth horizon, this highly tactile figure is housed in a striking, artist-made turquoise floater frame. It is a powerful statement piece that effortlessly bridges modern expressionism with the soulful emotional depth of contemporary figurative Western art.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 16x20in. (Canvas), approximately 17x21in. (Framed)
- Medium: Oil, acrylic, and pastel on canvas
- Artist: Jonathan McAfee (Evergreen, CO)
- Framing: Included, artist-made turquoise floater frame.
- Style: Contemporary Figurative Western / Modern Expressionist Portraiture