Scripture and Haida

Having liked the sun image that I described once before, and knowing that the Haida often use almost the same image for the sun and the moon, I thought I would also try something similar. I placed a gutter between them to keep them separate, but then I thought that they might make a wonderful Scripture illustration. Psalm 72:5 fit perfectly -

"Let them fear You while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, thoughout all generations."

Duck 2

Having done the regular duck, I decided that I needed a Haida duck. Since I already had the outline of a normal duck, I went with that and just filled in the interior with Haida designs. I happen to like it, but I've never met anyone else who does.

The Owl - Me

You may have noticed that I use this as my "photo." I wanted to do an owl, and this cross between a stylized owl (first seen during my college years), the Haida red and black, and the Celtic cross-hatching just plain struck my fancy. Actually, the irises and the talons are influenced by the Haida style, but the rest is just doodling done in the nicely contrasting black and red.

Hummingbird

We have hummingbirds at our house through much of hte year, and they are so much fun to watch. I decided to draw this for one of my children, and quite a few other people like it.

You will notice that I signed it twice. Just for grins, I signed with each color that I used. I've done this on more than one drawing, but on this one I alternated the colors between signature and the year of the drawing.

The Sun

The sun is a common element in Haida art, and it takes numerous shapes and styles. You will see it depicted variously in my drawings as well. This one is one of the designs that I personally find more pleasing, but to which others seem to be almost wholly indifferent. That doesn't bother me, since I do the Haida designs for myself. I just find it interesting.

Redfish

A friend of mine recently built a new house. I had given him some enlargements of severl of my Haida designs, which he likes, but he said that he would really like a redfish. Just for him, I drew this one and gave him the first enlargement. I was surprised to find that, other than family photos, mine is the only art hanging in his new house. That could change, but I feel honored.

Redraw 3

Here is another example of my desire to improve. The first image was an early attempt to do an orca in the Haida style. Some of the other elements I threw in are decidedly non-Haida, not that that fact bothers me. I frequently throw non-Hiada items into my Haida-style drawings. But the original is rather crude, and the items are not well balanced, so I decided to redraw it.

When I did, I decided to add some water. There is very little to go on in drawing water that could be considered "Hiada", so I improvised, and I liked the result. What do you think?

Fish

I enjoy the Haida style of art, and many of these I do for myself. One or two have been suggested by others, but most of them I do because I like to see them on my wall at work. Above is one example.
The outline of the fish is distinctly non-Haida, while most of the internal elements are Haida. The water is my own design, and though it fits with the theme, I have not seen such on any Haida paintings. I used different water in several other designs, none of which are any closer to being true Haida. Let me know what you think.

More Reasons

Occasionally, I mix my styles. The above picture is not true Hiada art, although it is Haida style. I took the outline of a horse, stylized the mane and tail, and then filled in the body with Haida and non-Haida symbols. The sun is very much Haida.

I did a similar running horse with different internal designs (almost all Haida), and I placed both sun and moon in the background. I like both pictures, even though they would not qulify as Haida. Some things I do just for the fun of it.

Haida Art

I have always been fond of very realistic art - like the grand masters (Rembrandt, etc.) or the early American classicists. But I was also a Boy Scout, a member of the Order of the Arrow, and a member of both the ceremony and dance teams. I made my own native American outfit - full leather with beadwork. During that time I was introduced to, and began to enjoy, Haida art.

Once my doodling took form and shape, I decided to try my hand at Haida art. The first one or two were weak attempts, but some of the latter I have enjoyed very much. Here is one sample. Your thoughts are appreciated.