Colored Bird
Deborah Trent, 2024 · Watercolor / Gouache on paper
Seeing examples of bandolier bags—intricately beaded shoulder pouches used by soldiers and Native Americans from the 16th to 20th centuries to carry gunpowder, pipes, tobacco, and valuables—sparked my interest in the Woodlands style of Native American art. Also known as the Woodlands school, Legend painting, Medicine painting, and Anishinaabe painting, this genre is rooted in First Nations and Native American communities around the Great Lakes, including northern Ontario and southwestern Manitoba. Many Woodlands artists are Anishinaabeg—especially Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi—as well as Oji-Cree and Cree.
- Reference: “Woodlands style,” Wikipedia (June 5, 2022).
Inspiration
I was inspired to explore this painting technique after reading a wonderful book on bandolier bags and the beadwork used by the Ojibwe peoples in Minnesota a century ago.
Artistic Process
I always begin with a preliminary sketch, then experiment with medium and color. Although it felt counterintuitive, I introduced some vivid—almost garish—hues to the bird. To keep the focus on the subject, I set it against a simplified dark-brown background suggestive of tree bark. My aim was to evoke the Woodlands style: bold color, unexpected harmonies, and graphic clarity.
- Brushes: Princeton Heritage set; Micron Black 0.8 ink pen.
- Paints: Hansa Yellow, Opera, Cerulean Blue, Cadmium Orange, Burnt Sienna, Van Dyke Brown, Ultramarine Violet, Lunar Black, Titanium White.
Reflections
I’m excited to keep exploring this style.
Date of Creation
March 02, 2024