Greetings!

I thought I would start my first blog post by answering the question of why I paint historical Native American subject matter. The question that usually follows is, "Are you Native American?" or, "Do you have any Native American in you?". The answer to both of these questions is no. I don't even like going down this road given how race has sadly become such a contentious and delicate subject in recent times, but after doing several genetic tests it was confirmed that I'm just a European mutt.

So why do I paint historical Native American subject matter? The answer is ultimately aesthetics. I started out as a wildlife and landscape artist. The reason being I grew up in rural Minnesota around a bunch of blue-collar hunters and fisherman. But even back then I always loved the human figure and thought it's one of the most beautiful things God had ever created. I also loved the shape of a human on a horse. It always struck me as very noble and pleasing, slightly resembling a cross with incredible variety.

I also had an interest in history. Growing up in rural Minnesota I was surrounded by the remnants of American Indian culture. Most of the towns nearby had Indian names, such as Owatonna, Waseca, Shakopee, and even the name Minnesota which comes from two Dakota terms which when combined means "clear, blue water."

I was always intrigued by how the Indians of the past lived so close to nature. Add onto that my love for the American west. I first went out west in 2011 and since then I've had a fascination with that part of the United States. Naturally, I started researching the history of the Native Americans of the west with great interest.

So why not paint cowboys? After all, they were human, rode horses, were out west, and were an integral part of American history. Plus, I could easily avoid any accusations of appropriation. I guess the answer is because I've always loved the Indian's closeness with nature. This is the wildlife-artist-side of me. I like nature, and the Native Americans were closer to it than the cowboys. I also find the Native Americans to be more aesthetically pleasing. The incredible variety of regalia, warpaint, feathers, and even the incorporation of European-made articles gives the artist so much more to play with.

Some have implied that since I'm not Native American I shouldn't paint Native Americans. I totally disagree. I do not think that one needs to have a certain amount of DNA of any particular group of people in order to appreciate and paint that group of people anymore than one needs to be a tree in order to paint trees. If I find something beautiful I will paint it, and I find the Native American people to be beautiful, therefore I paint them.

I also hope that my artwork will awaken people to the history, beauty, and struggle of the American Indian. This struggle still goes on, even to this day. There is much poverty on many of the Indian reservations which we should help relieve, and I feel it's important for the Indian Nations to maintain their history and culture. I hope that my artwork can in some small way contribute to this and to the preservation of the American Indians and the history of our Nation.

Click here to see my historical Native American work.

If pieces like this interest you, the Insiders Group is where I share the research and field trips behind each painting, along with first access to new work as it's finished. Join here.