The Rise Begins: the Painting

[lorinfriesen]

My reason, my passion for painting and sculpting art of Texas history is for its Spirit, the spirit overlooked!

The Texas Revolution was their defensive battle to maintain a way of life, their response to tyranny from an emerging Imperialist Dictator. No different than thirteen colonies beginning to extract themselves from distant British Rule, rule without representation or the Hispanic war freeing Mexico from Royalist Spain, the spirit of republicanism, government by the people rises for all! Such upstarts are annihilated, Santa Anna rule #1.

Before our Veterans Day came to be, and on this date in 1835, Texas was in the middle of revolutionary war at the Siege of Bexar. They risked all, fighting to maintaining their Constitutional government, a Constitution that would have granted them Statehood, until Dictatorialism emerged.

I have heard many times over that Texas was just a land grab! With this I do now agree, for it was Santa Anna who was wielding his army to grab the newly established Texas under the Impresario System, away from the very settlers who performed every task of labor and toil that forged it, bearing their American Spirit of the people, for the people and by the people.

Santa Anna said take their guns! Texas' response at Gonzales, No Way, and so the defensive battle to remove all Mexican Military from Texas proceeded to their Siege at Bexar.

December 10, marks the date of the Texas Revolution's greatest strategic success at their capture of the Alamo, setting the foundation, their one crowning yet unheralded achievement that would protect the balance of Texas' population from Santa Anna's large red flag, his march of death in 1836.

To fulfill the challenge offered me by the Descendants of the Siege of Bexar in 2006, I will introduce to them in December, my artist's concept for their monument to the success of the Texas Revolution at the Siege of Bexar, honoring the grit and the mettle of every Texan who risked all for their Americanized way of life.

Shown below is my depiction of the day that began the Texas Revolution; Saturday, September 19, 1835 from San Felipe, Texas.



This painting, 24" x 36" is now at auction, the highest bidder dedicated to give this work to the People of Texas.
Copies are available upon request.

Lorin Friesen
[e-mail]
LorinDesigns.com
512-353-0847

[Jim Boylston]

Nice work, Lorenzo. How about filling us in on some of your research on the painting.
Jim

[lorinfriesen]

Hey Jim,

Starting with the circular, I tried to think as Austin might. Having received the news on the eighteenth of Cos, I assumed he and the committee of safety spent a good deal of the nighttime making many copies of his news and determination. Then sent out on the morning of the 19th.

I have put forth my best effort to perform this as authentically as possible, starting with conversations with a few historically minded individuals, Grace Holtcamp & Michael Skrivanek living near San Felipe. This began in February when we still were getting some rain.

The known portraitures besides Austin which is created from his portrait from the Capitol are Gail Borden/by Dwaine Benson to his left, and Noah Smithwick/ no model needed running disheveled in the distance at the right. Other friends, the rider/ by Dustin New, Austin figure/ by Paul Head, and tall gent to the left/ Tad Wheelock model more character types. The horse is a local Appaloosa to San Marcos named Monte.

The setting was the most challenging, finding a good building type still in good shape, one from New Braunfels. I had conversations with two individuals from San Felipe area who were most supportive with the general layout of the grounds specifically at the Brazos edge. I worked out the angle of the sun shining across the front street at that specific angle on a September morning while if the Land Office faced the River Road North North-east.

Steve Abolt offered many suggestions for appropriate dress/ fashions that were less authentic before. The reins were studied, the saddle conferred by Will Ghormley. I studied wild plants and trees common then…

I must say again to Ranger Rod that he uplifted my soul when he found for me the second copy of Austin’s circular. And then there were the many readings and reviews to put together for this one moment in time. And still so much to describe!

[sloanrodgers]

Nov 11, 2008 21:26:46 GMT -5 @lorinfriesen said:

I must say again to Ranger Rod that he uplifted my soul when he found for me the second copy of Austin’s circular. And then there were the many readings and reviews to put together for this one moment in time. And still so much to describe!

Uh, thanks, but I believe I simply typed in Austin's name and a couple keywords, then the copy
popped up on the Texas State Library's web page. I've never been called a soul lifter before and
hope it's nothing like a sneaker thief. ;D

[lorinfriesen]

Uh, thanks, but I believe I simply typed in Austin's name and a couple keywords, then the copy
popped up on the Texas State Library's web page.

My procedure was to follow where I first learned of the document in Texas Frontier Leader, to locate the John H. Jenkins copy which had been relocated in the archives. If I had first thought to search it on the net as you did RR, I might have assumed it was one and the same, thinking it the only copy to exist.

When anyone has an opportunity to visit San Felipe, you will now be able to view both copies in the near exact condition as you would at the archives, except the TSL copy was laminated some time ago with a linen fabric to protect it, yet this has obscured it almost illegible!

Note: The copy posted by TSL bares the signature of Austin, yet this page is not his penmanship. It is a fancier copy but not from Austin's hand.