A multicultural artist, Len had previously focused much of
his attention on his
American Indian lineage, but felt restricted
to the parameters of culturally specific art.
During his absence, he has traveled the world, exploring
the many other facets of his
ancestry, and what has
emerged is a pan-cultural exploration into the sacred
relationship
of God to Creation. Now, combining elements
from his American Indian, Celtic,
Chinese and African ancestry,
Bell is currently focusing his attention on the aspects
of
maternal nature and the beauty of woman.
“I wanted to be a Celtic artist. I've always had a deep
love of the history that comes to me
through my
family from Ireland and Scotland and I've spent a
great deal of time developing
knotworks and key patterns,
but as my family began a cross country journey, I began
a
series of painting and photographs exploring the nature
of creation and the connection
between all those things.
It occurred to me the two things that God birthed into existence
were
Peace and Love and in every creation he placed
a desire to do the same.
" We are born to create, so I got stuck on the
maternity of God and I haven't found the depth of it thus far.”
Combining watercolor, colored pencils and ink,
spiraling patterns
fill the frame as Bell reveals the
common spirit in all things through images
influenced
by his spiritual beliefs, Celtic roots, the birth culture,
and his bohemian surroundings.
Viewers are likely to
find a surfer or two in his illustrations as well.
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