Linda's Magic Workshop - Linda Britt Design

Yesterday Peter and I took a day trip to V-Bar-V Ranch near Sedona AZ.   We love to visit ruins and see petroglyphs while we look for real birds and interesting textures of nature. In 1994, the U.S. Forest Service acquired the V-Bar-V Ranch to protect the ancient art panels found here. The property was first homesteaded at the turn of the century (1900’s) by the Taylor family.   Several families ran the property as a working cattle ranch after that. We checked in with the ranger and took the short walk to the very large configuration of rocks on the sandstone bluff.   It was covered with petroglyphs- 1032 have been identified so far.   Most were pecked, ground or scratched into the rock between 1150 and 1400 A.D. (over 800 years ago).   The Sinagua people who created these images seemed to like pairs – 2 birds, lizards and humans with different sets of legs- and we found several of these pairs.   By watching the movement of light across the rock images, the people could tell

It seems that man has always wanted to express himself with drawings.   Early man often used stones to peck on rocks as well as paint to leave his messages.   He recorded ceremonies, hunts, dreams, maps, animals and daily life.   Just to clarify the terms: ‘pictograph’ is anything depicted on a stone surface – carved, pecked or painted. ‘Petroglyph’ is the technical word for anything carved or pecked.   I’ve always been fascinated by pictographs.  And I take photographs of the images whenever I am fortunate to find them. Hopi, Pueblo, Paiute Navajo and Anasazi have left drawings on rocks all over the Southwest.     It is great to live in this area of pictorial wealth!   I just came across William Michael Stokes and William Lee Stokes book “Messages on Stone – Selections of Native Western Rock Art “.   The images are divided into types – Apparel and Adornment, Birds, The Corn Maidens, Design, etc.   Great little book for kids and adults! It is pretty easy to find a real pictograph, matc

Visitng another culture broadens and enriches my view of the world as I try to understand how we are all connected.   I am fascinated by how we are the same and yet so different.   I take lots of pictures of the details, patterns and textures when I travel and bring them home to sort through and absorb.   I let my imagination go to see what I can create that reminds me of my experiences. I am sharing some of my photos and impressions with you.                                                                                               At the base of this kopje, there are petroglyphs - ancient paintings from the Masai people.   Animals, maps, and other information left to assist or tell a story to the next passerby.   This rock formation is tall and wide.  The drawings on the rock are about 5 ft. high. This is a great example of being inspired by nature!  The beautiful crowned crane was the basis for this airplane's tail.        The columns of wood are carved by artists to t