24 Jan Ancient Observers Series – What were the ancient people trying to tell us
“Everything we’ve been taught about the origins of civilization may be wrong.” Danny Hilman Natawidjaja, PhD, senior geologist with the Research Center for Geotechnology
I’m excited to start the year with a painting series called ANCIENT OBSERVERS. (Click Here for a time-lapse of me painting Viracocha, God of the Incas.)
Most of my paintings are commissioned and I don’t always get to paint what I want. But this series is my own and I think it’s going to be one of my best.
I’m starting to understand why some of the best art comes from decades of practice and study. It’s taken me nearly thirty years to get to where I can confidently paint this current series.
As a surfer, I’ve chased waves all over the world, and some of my travels led me to stumble upon ancient sites in Peru, Tahiti and Hawaii.
I’ve always been interested in ancient cultures, even as a kid flipping through my dad’s National Geographic magazines.
During one of my adventures, something clicked and made me realize that there is a lot more to ancient wisdom than we know.
That epiphany happened in May of 2011 when I stand-up paddled the entire 225 miles of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon with my friend Seth Warren. It was a 16 day adventure that took us into some of the most inhospitable spots on the planet.
The thing about going down the Colorado River through the Canyon is this: Once you go in, you can’t come out until the end. Everything you need to survive has to be with you. You sleep in the sand. You are at one with the land. It was dangerous and intense.
What surprised me was this; the Grand Canyon has ancient structures and petroglyphs in the bottom of the canyon, in spots that are so inaccessible that it’s nearly impossible to get there.
Laying in my sleeping bag one night, staring at the bright stars in the stillness, I started thinking about ancient people and how they did things. It was so peaceful in the Grand Canyon without human devices. You are instantly connected to the natural environment. You have no choice but to be present in the NOW. It made me realize that as humans, we created a false environment that has disconnected us.
I suddenly had many questions in my head about what the ancient people knew. I began traveling to other ancient sites for answers. In the past few years I visited pyramids and ruins in places like Egypt, Bosnia and Mexico.
I also took my family to ruins in America, such as Cahokia Mounds in Illinois, Chaco Canyon in New Mexico and the Cliff Dwellings of Mesa Verde in Colorado.
In sync with that, I have been hired for illustration projects that required me to do intensive research on things like structured water and agriculture.
All of these experiences have led me to this current series, ANCIENT OBSERVERS.
This series will illustrate what the ancient cultures were trying to communicate to us through their symbols, structures and art.
The first three paintings in the series are:
1 – THE SUN – The return of Viracocha and what the ancients were trying to tell us about our skies
2 – THE EARTH – Electromagnetic fields and Water’s role on earth
3 – THE GREAT YEAR – The Precession of the Equinox and what ancient people understood about it
ANCIENT OBSERVERS EXHIBIT: This series will be exhibited at Observing the Frontier Conference in Albuquerque, NM next month and also at CPAK in Newport Beach, CA in October 2019. These paintings are available for pre-purchase and sponsorship – for details, call Maria at 949-678-8133.
I’ll be painting the first three big pieces over the next few weeks; follow me on Instagram to see to the daily updates: https://www.instagram.com/drewbrophy/
If you are interested in learning more about the path that led me to this current focus, please check out my friends Jay and Chelsea Alders podcast interview with me on their SHIFTING PERCEPTIONS podcast show.
And if you’re local, I’m having a private early preview and discussion of the works by invitation only, in San Clemente. If you want to come, email mariab@drewbrophy.com for the details.
Thanks for reading this far! Life is Good,
Drew
PS: If you’re interested in the science of the sun and how it affects the earth and our climate, check out SuspiciousObservers.org – Ben Davidson gives a daily space weather report on Youtube (subscribe to his channel here) and comments on current scientific papers and breakthroughs. I begin my day each morning, listening to Ben’s daily update.
DREW BROPHY
Brophy Art Gallery and Design Studio
PO Box 836
San Clemente, CA 92674
store.drewbrophy.com