This document summarizes and reflects on a painting of Blackwater Falls in West Virginia by artist Bill Holkham. The painting depicts the waterfall in great beauty, using various shades of blue to show the depth of the water and greens to depict surrounding plant life. The artist was inspired by the dramatic landscape and sounds of the falls. The document's author interprets the painting as representing the importance of conserving natural areas. It influences him to appreciate nature and the beauty of the area where he plans to marry. He hopes the area depicted can be shared freely without exploitation or pollution.

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Assignment 2-
Social Artifact
Reflection
Harold Sowards II
PLS 301
3/19/15
By

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Type of artifact
Painting
Creator
Bill Holkham
General description/history
According to Fine Art America, the artist visited West Virginia and fell in
love with the falls and tries to paint everything to have the picture with
careful selections of colors and tonal values match the harmonious scenes
of the landscape that was viewed. It was said to be very dramatic there and
the sounds of the water sounded like thunder when they rolled. Bill
Holkham according to the same website is an artist who paints with
watercolors, oils and pastels.
Interpretation
In my opinion, this painting matches a commitment of natural
resource/recreation areas, because the artist depicts a waterfall in its
upmost beauty. According to Fine Art America, Bill Holkham describes
the roar of the water as thunder, which to me sounds like he is very
interested in understanding nature. You can see where he painted the
bottoms of the falls on the rocks and it helps me imagine the sound
myself. The various shades of blue that is used to paint the waterfall helps

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display the various degrees of depth that the water itself provides as well
as matching the shadows of the areas surrounding it. The green on the
rocks underneath the waterfall, depicts certain degrees of plant life that
come associated with aquatic atmospheres and in the background you can
see the beauty of the trees and surrounding landscape. To me this whole
painting shows that areas such as this should be conserved for future
viewings.
Influence
To me this painting helps show me the beauty of the area that my fiancé
and I are planning to get married at. It helps show me that there is more
important things than staying indoors and enjoying man’s creation, it says
hey look at what God has given everyone a chance to view, so I should
take it upon myself to see it. I can see the peace that is associated with the
image and it makes me want to go there and take it all in myself. The roar
of the water sounds like it would be something great to listen to while
trying to have a picnic and relax by the waterfall. I can’t really see any
wildlife in the picture, but I’m hoping that there is some there so that it can
add some more beauty to the area. Natural resources such as this does not
deserve to continue to be exploited by signs or by people trying to profit
off of every aspect of it and instead should be shared freely with everyone
so that they can all see what we have to be thankful for in our country. Not
only that, but these kind of areas shouldn’t be tarnished by trash and other

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pollutants because they begin to disrupt the beauty of the natural
landscape.
Image
References
http://fineartamerica.com/products/blackwater-falls-bill-holkham-art-
print.html