FOUR CORNERS

Hand painted on deer, this hide is stretched and tied with sinew onto a Saguaro cactus frame, then adorned with bone beads and feathers.

Approximate Size:

$4,200

HUNTER'S DESIRE

Hand painted on reindeer (caribou), this hide portrays images of big game animals on the wall of cave. It is thought that ancient man would illustrate their most desired game anials this way in hopes that their images would translate into succesful future hunts. They were typically drawn as robust, healthy animals, and sometimes drawn in groups to represent plentiful herds. It is likely the ancient artists took their illustrations very seriously and would use them in spiritual ceremonies before the onset of and important hunt.

Approximate Size:

$3,400 (prices and size will vary with hide choice: deer, reindeer, elk, Buffalo, etc.)

SUNDANCE

Hand painted on reindeer (caribou), this design symbolizes the importance of the sun to the circle of life. The sunburst represents the great soul spirit (the sun), which is the center of all life. The hunters' arrows point in the four earthly directions. The dots represent animal tracks. Typically, the color red was sacred and represented warmth and life/ blood.

Approximate Size:

$3,400 (price and size will vary with hide choice: white tail deer, reindeer, elk, Buffalo, etc.)

TALKING BACK

Hand painted on deer, this hide is an artistic adaptation of several documented rock art symbols from the southwest. Prehistoric rock art has been a fascinating subject for generations. The true meaning and purpose of ancient rock art is still unknown. However, many scholars have speculated they were representative of the typical human needs and desires. Such as, spiritual worship, hunting and gathering, defense, story telling, record keeping, travel and the natural elements.

Approximate Size:

$3,200

WARRIOR'S PRIDE

Hand painted on caribou, the symbols on this hide are adapted from a warrior's shirt dated from around the 1850s. The symbols are cataloged as Chiricahua Apache. They represent shields, lances and war bonnets. Shields are represented as large circles and are adorned with black tipped eagle feathers. The circular red band was probably a representation of trade cloth typical of that era. The zigzag lines on the unadorned shields represent enemy bullets being deflected. Split horn war bonnets are a sign of an accomplished warrior. The long feather trailer on the bonnet meant the warrior was held in high esteem. These were adorned with eagle feathers, trade cloth and sometimes ermine tails. Lances were typically weapons of a mounted warrior and signified his position as such. These were very effective weapons and were also adorned with feathers, trade cloth and fur.

Approximate Size:

$2,800

WILD WILD WAR

The Native American warhorse was highly honored and respected by its rider. The owner would take great care in selecting symbols and other decorative accents for his horse. He would often choose tribal symbols that would convey power, protection and the courageous heart of the horse and himself. Hand painted on a natural caribou, this hide illustrates a transition from horses running wild and free to a fully decorated warhorse and its rider. 

Approximate Size:

$3,400

TATANKA

 Painted on Elk, A buffalo hunt as is would appear in pictograph form, or an ancient drawing in a cave. To the Native Americans, the buffalo was their single most important natural resource. The animal provided food, war and hunting implements, leather for tepees, clothing and even glue. "Tantanka" means Buffalo.

Approximate Size: 68" x 91” sizes and prices will vary

$5800 (price and size will vary with hide choice: deer, elk, buffalo)

MIMBRES CROSSING

The ancient Mimbres culture inhabited the southern New Mexico area for more than 1,000 years. "Mimbres" is the Spanish word for the willow trees that grow along the river valley region.

 They were mostly known for their extraordinary pottery, which was intricately painted with complex graphic designs and animal figures.

 Painted on Caribou, and embellished with turquoise and jet beads, this hide contains elements of the Mimbres' beautiful, artistic style. 

Approximate Size:

$3,400

GOOD MEDICINE

Painted on elk, this hide represents a "Shaman's" ceremonial robe. A Shaman is a person who is a messenger between the human world and the spirit world. Their primary purpose is to restore balance and harmony to the physical world by drawing from the spirit world. By connecting with the supernatural, Shamans will treat physical, emotional, and psychological illnesses by mending the soul. The Shaman will also enter the supernatural realm to seek solutions to problems that may arise within the community.

Approximate Size: Sizes and prices will vary

$5,300

FAN OF CHEYENNE

Symbols of Cheyenne ceremonial fans and bustles dance around on this hand painted deer hide.

Many Cheyenne ceremonial items were decorated with eagle feathers attached to ornately beaded bases.

The Native American dance is a ceremony that connects the people with the natural and spiritual world. It is rich in symbolism. Their dance appeases the spirits, and celebrates peace or victory. It also expresses longing and encourages healing.

Approximate Size:

$2,800

TALK OF THE TRIBE

Painted on caribou, this is a traditional story hide depicting the characteristics that make up a typical tribe. The symbols are taken from the Plains Indian culture and represent the sun and eagle feathers.  After the Spanish introduction of the horse they turned away from farming to horse back hunting and battle. However, they did still cultivate maize, squash, and sunflower. 

Approximate Size:

$3,400

CHILKAT

Painted on caribou hide, this design represents the Chilkat style.

The Chilkat are one of many clans of the Tlingit people. The Tlingit inhabit the Pacific Northwest mainland and islands. Their artistic style is easily recognizable with bold black lines, animal/human like creatures, and fragmented designs.

The Chilkat where known for their beautifully woven blankets. They would often sew mother of pearl buttons around their blankets or painted leather capes to signify wealth and status.

Approximate Size:

$3,600

DRAGONFLY

Painted on caribou, the symbols on this hide are adaptations of the Plains Indian tribes. To many of these tribes, the dragonfly symbolized protection and invincibility. Therefore, it was often painted on war shirts, war shields, warhorses, and teepees.

 To the Navajo, Hopi, Apache, and other southwest tribes the dragonfly often symbolized transformation and life's ever-constant process of change, happiness, speed, water, or purity.

Adorned with Native American beads hand made from antique victrola records, mother of pearl, and parrot feathers

Approximate Size:

$3,400

TRIBUTE

Painted on white tail deer, this design features highly decorated Plains Indian warriors and their horses just returning from a raid.

I decided to call this hide "Tribute" in honor of the talented Lakota Sioux artist, Sonny Tuttle."Tribute" is patterned after his beautiful style of hide painting.

Approximate Size:

$3400 (size and price will very with hide choice: deer, elk, buffalo)

HANDS OF TIME

Painted on caribou, primitive horses run wild and free while human hands appear to be reaching out to capture them.

This is my adaptation of the ancient cave drawings of northern Europe. Found in countries such as Fance and Spain, the drawings are considered some of the oldest and most sophisticated ever discovered.

Approximate Size: This painted hide is now part of a private collection. Orders can be taken from this original. Though every effort is made to keep the design as close as possible to the original, there will be slight variances in size, shape, color, and design placement.

$3,400

CROW HORSE

Here I have painted an evolution of three different forms of biographic art superimposed onto a buffalo hide. They include: 

Petroglyph style (etched into rock),

Pictograph style (usually painted on rock or leather),

and Ledger art (usually painted on cloth or paper)

Ledger art got its name from the use of discarded accounting ledgers that were an abundant paper source in the late 19th century. It was primarily painted by the men in the community, and depicted events of valor and tribal importance to honor the person's involved

The images on this hide are based on drawings from a book titled "The Five Crows Ledger" by James D. Keyser

Five Crows was a Flathead Indian chief whose ledger art played a significant role in the study of Plains Indian biographic art.

Approximate Size: 6.5 ft x 5.5 ft

$6500 (unframed)

ACOMA

Approximate Size:

$3400

WARRIOR’S BONNET

Approximate Size: Varies

$3400