Watercolor Paintings
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I’ve been intrigued by the designs that the Native Americans in this country left behind on rock surfaces in their many territories. They are beautiful to look at and are a testimony to their daily life and tell stories that involved hunting, celebrations, weather, water sources, and noteworthy events, such as births and deaths.

Every tribe had its own style and approach. The designs inscribed into rock are called Petroglyphs, the designs done on the surface are called Pictographs. Petroglyphs tended to have a longer longevity because of the more permanent inscribing or scratching into the rock’s surface, thus survived weather conditions over the years. Whereas Pictographs have disappeared in many areas, because of vulnerability to weather and exposure.

I have combined different tribes’ icons and symbols from the Petroglyphs and Pictographs to form a composition of color and line, also incorporating designs from their pottery and clothing. The colors I used are inspired by the Native American’s use of the natural world around them, such as berries, herbs and clays. Below each painting is written the names of the tribe that I have used as inspiration, feeling that they should be honored and credited.