New Blog site .... My first Post!!!!

Hi Everyone. I was having a hard time deciding what to talk about on my first blog. I'm new at this so I decided that I would talk about a painting I did a couple of years ago that is a self portrait and perhaps it will let you get to know me a little better.

Self Portrait

This piece was painted in the Eastern Woodland style of art and shows various parts of my life and family.  It shows me surrounded by my family - 3 daughters and 3 granddaughters who are the small figures in the center right area of the painting.

The bear represents my totem - from the Ojibwe Bear Clan. The bear tracks ending in a print of my human hand represent my journey through life.

Over my left shoulder in the painting is a representation of the sun and it's energy radiating out and surrounding me giving me life.

In the bottom left corner is the outline of a turtle which in North American Native lore represents Turtle Island also known as North America.

The small ghostly figures are people from a very dark period of my life but since they made up a large part of my life I have still included them.

This is a fairly large piece measuring 3 feet by 4 feet. It is on stretched canvas and I used acrylic paint for this one because there are so many flat areas of color.

I would appreciate any feedback or questions regarding this painting. Thanks for taking the time to view it.