Original Painting of a Pair of Plain Titmouse Birds [SOLD]

Beatien Yazz was fond of painting birds and animals seen on the Navajo Reservation where he grew up and spent his entire life.  In this painting, he has illustrated two Titmouse Birds resting on tree branches of trees not shown.  This is probably a male and female couple.  The male titmouse is plain grey with a small crest, unlike most male birds that are more colorful. 

Beatien Yazz is also known as Jimmy Toddy, a name given him by the school teachers. His father was known as Joe Toddy. Loosely translated, Toddy is the Navajo word for "bluebird." Sally Lippincott is believed to be responsible for his other name, Bea Etin Yazz, which translates to Little No Shirt. An artist who hung around the Wide Ruins Trading Post owned by the Lippincotts habitually ran around without a shirt. Customers called him No Shirt, so when young Toddy started emulating him, he was dubbed Little No Shirt.

Condition:  appears to be in original condition but has not been examined out of the frame.

Provenance:  written on verso in ink is the following:  To my precious little Grand daughter Kathryn. Gram B (Gram B was Frances Balcomb, matriarch of the famous Balcomb gallery family.)  Kathryn, the current owner, is a granddaughter of Frances Balcomb.

Recommended Reading: Yazz: Navajo Painter [SOLD] by J. J. Brody