My life as an artist has been defined by three major factors — growing up poor, my love of dance and my love of Nature.
The subjects of my art have usually been dancers — most often my wife. I was a founding teacher at the Houston Contemporary Dance Theatre in the 70s and have used my art to portray and support dance ever since.
Having grown up poor, I have always tried to create art with what I could get for little or nothing. Starting at a young age, I used natural materials, salvaged materials and recycled materials to create my art.
Since I live in the Texas Hill Country, I use naturally-occurring stone that I sculpt using a hammer and chisel. The rock is basically free and I use my (hopefully) renewable energy (as I get older it takes me longer to charge up my batteries). I also have used naturally-occurring pigments from stone and plants.
I would encourage all artists to experiment with materials and methods that protect the earth. It is hypocritical to talk Green and yet not practice it in your art. While saving a little by each artist may not seem like much, everything helps. It is a mindset more than anything. Either you gear your mind to be aware of saving energy and resources or you don't. Of course, I use electricity and chemical paints and concrete and drive and fly and so on.
Going Green does not mean you have to live like a primitive person did 10,000 years ago. But rather use God's gifts with care and thankfulness.
*** Pablo Solomon is an internationally-recognized artist known primarily for his drawings and sculptures of dancers. He has been featured in books, magazines, newspapers, radio, TV and film. He and his wife are also well known for their conservation efforts and have been "going green" for over 30 years. They reside on a historic 1856 ranch north of Austin, Texas, which was nominated for the highest award in Texas for environmental restoration and preservation in 1997-98. Pablo was featured in an April 2009 National Geographic article on the first Earth Day by Mark Anderson and in numerous green articles.
