Spirit Power

Year completed: 1960's
Medium: Acrylic on Paper
Size (inches): 30 x 20
Size (cm): 75 x 50

Status: Available for Purchase

Observations: The shaman talking to the animals, reminiscent of Thomas Aquinas in the saintly ability to speak directly through the spirit to all things. The use of orange is unusual at this period in Norval's career, as is the economy of line - the painting is without his customary 'x-ray' approach, the absence of which hints at the source of the ideas depicted: during a short stint in a Christian school, and through his devoutly Christian grandmother, Norval was introduced to the Judeo-Christian themes of universal love and kindness that he explores in this piece. Given these themes, it is not surprising that he chose not to apply his petroglyph-inspired 'x-ray' technique to the piece.