Remember our kinship
16' x 20' acrylic painting on canvas, 2025.
Long ago when the prairies, forests and mountains were full of buffalo and bison, indigenous people, more specifically the Métis lived in kinship with these great animals. Many indigenous Métis people relied on these animals for food, shelter, tools, clothing, and for trading. They only took what they needed and didn’t waste any part of the bison, but due to European colonizers hunting for sport and destroying their habitats and herds, they disappeared by the 1800s.
This painting symbolizes that kinship we had as Métis people with the bison. The little Métis girl wears a shall with the Métis sash colours and patterns, as she sits in the long grass looking up at the great bison. All the colours are bright and warm like a happy memory or dream.
Grandpas Truck
15.5' x 23' watercolor paining and pen ink drawing on paper. 2023.
Grandpas Truck' is an Original mixed media drawing inspired by good memories and farm living. The bright blues and green watercolors flow around on the paper as if the image was a memory carefully captured on a page. There are many stories about the old truck which many of us can be reminded of when we look at this unique piece of art work. This watercolor and black ink pen drawing would make a beautiful addition to home decor or would make a thoughtful gift to a friend or loved one.
Mountain creek
9' x 12' Water color painting. 2022
Was a part of the Art Gallery of Alberta, 2023 Boreal Barometer: The art of observation and well-being.
Under the Waves
Acrylic glaze painting on canvas
Was a part of the Art Gallery of Alberta, 2023 Boreal Barometer: The art of observation and well-being.
Feather
Water color painting still life painting
Brotherhood
18' x 24' watercolor painting on paper, 2025
Brotherhood’ is inspired by Allen Desjarlais Lac La Biche Pow Wow logo he drew in 1986 and was the community’s Pow Wow logo for over thirty years. Brotherhood is a watercolor painting with so much meaning. It was created to bring back an important part of our communities history and to represent our culture and what our pow wow use to be. A gathering of people from all over, no matter who you are where you’re from. Celebrating community with traditional food, dancing and music. On the band of the hat is wâwâskesiwisâkahikan, which means Lake of the Elk ( Lac La Biche ) in the Cree language. Between the faces hangs a beaded medallion that says Pow Wow. Two feathers, an eagle and a hawk feather dangle from it with a small medicine wheel button on the bottom. This art work is a symbol of unity and community.
Allen Desjarlais Lac La Biche Pow Wow Logo was drawn in 1986 and his logo was used for over Thirty years. His family, friends and community was his inspiration for his drawing. The constable and indigenous man represents the indigenous and the non indigenous together as one, for the purpose of forming a brotherhood with one another through a pow wow in Lac La Biche. His brother Homer Desjarlais was his reference to draw the constable on the right, and himself as reference to draw the indigenous man. (See Allen Desjarlais Lac La Biche Pow Wow Logo)
Gather and Rest
Gather and Rest is a watercolor landscape painting inspired by the Métis Nation of Alberta constitution of 2022. watercolor painting creates a dreamy feeling to the image, like a memory to look back on. Symbolism was an important part of the artwork, signifying, portraying Métis history, culture and traditions. The painting is set on a prairie landscape where two red river carts come over the hill to meet up with a cart resting in the field. A Métis couple sit’s in the grass wrapped in blankets with the Métis colors, watching their two kids run and play together with their dog. The resting red river cart sits peacefully to the right with its blue infinity flag flying proudly and a horse grazing calmly beside it. The bright orange and purple sunset symbolizes peace and hope for a better future. Gather and Rest is a beautiful work of art that many people will be able to relate too and enjoy together with friends and strangers. It is a wonderful reminder to the Métis people how far we have come and of the great future ahead of us.
Deer Skull
9' x 12' Water color painting 2022.
Old Girl
12' x 16' Water color painting and pen ink drawing 2024.
