Artists
Oscardo has partnered with some very talented Canadian Native Artists to create some wonderful products and to expose more people internationally to the beauty and diversity of Canadian art.
Each product is made with great care to reproduce the original as faithfully as possible. As Oscardo's product can be found across North America and around the world, and as much of the product is sold either as souvenirs to International tourists or as gifts to be taken abroad by Canadians, every piece sold has the potential to be seen by countless nations. And as every piece by an artist includes a brief biography, Oscardo is quietly doing its part to get Canadian artists recognized in the rest of the world.
Wade Stephen Baker - Mintle-e-da-us, Kwakiutl Artist
Rick Beaver, Ojibway Artist
Isaac Bignell, Cree Artist
Benjamin Chee Chee, Ojibway Artist
Lee Claremont, Mohawk Artist
Sue Coleman - Canadian Artist
Rande Cook - Galapa, Kwakwaka'w Artist
Andy Everson - Kwakwaka'wakw
Artist
Richard Hunt, Kwakiutl Artist
Alex Janvier, Canadian Artist
Ruth Lund, Canadian Artist
Maxine Noel - Ioyan Mani, Sioux Artist
Norval Morrisseau - Miskwaabik Animiiki, Ojibwa Artist
Dawn Oman, Chippewyan Artist
Jessie Oonark, Keewatin Artist
Bill Reid, Haida Artist
Jamie Sterritt - Wii Nagim Tts'uwingat, Gitksan Artist
Cecil Youngfox - Ojibway Artist
"The Creator gave us a gift. We can all create something in our life."
Wade Stephen Baker - Mintle-e-da-us, Kwakiutl Artist
Mintle-e-da-us (Wade Stephen Baker) was born in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1956. His Kwakiutl native name is Mintle-e-da-us, which means place of plenty. Wade prides himself on being part of the most powerful spiritual dancers in Hamsham Kwakiutl ceremonies. His mother is high ranking nobility of the Kingcome Inlet people, Kwakiutl Nation, British Columbia. His late father, descended from Chief Capilano, was Coast Salish, Squamish Nation. Wade lives with his partner/wife, and daughter in North Vancouver.
Wade is a self taught artist who was inspired as a child by watching his relatives Mungo Martin and Henry Hunt who were master carvers. His understanding of the deep spiritual and religious meaning of traditional ceremonies comes from attending his family's many potlatches held in various longhouses along the coast. His complex and detailed artistry, combined with brilliant colours, create spiritual forms that appeal to both traditional and modern collectors. Wade is the Millennium Coin designer of the Double Wolf August 2000 quarter.
Artist Website
Products designed by Wade Baker
Rick Beaver, Ojibway Artist
Rick is an internationally recognized Mississauga Ojibway artist from Alderville First Nation in Ontario. He has been painting professionally for over 20 years and is an avid conservationist. He is the proprietor of Sweetgrass Studios located at his birthplace on the Alderville First Nation in Ontario. His diverse involvements include consultations in aboriginal tourism, the arts, cultural history and environmental management. He has been a tour guide and host for "Spirit Walks", an aboriginal tourism initiative for First Nation communities and partners where his artistic and communication skills have helped establish these venues. He has recently served as a member of the design team for The Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough, Ontario.
He has appeared as a personality on television and radio, illustrated several publications and was the recipient of the Governor General's commemorative medal for community service in 1993. Currently he serves as Natural Heritage Coordinator for Alderville First Nation.
Rick is encouraged that the response to his work indicates a growing enjoyment of the expressions of the land and the life it supports.
Artist Website
Products designed by Rick Beaver
“Through art and dancing I attempt to influence native people to continue their cultural ways; the gift that was given to us by the Great Spirit."
Isaac Bignell - Cree Artist
Isaac was a Cree painter, born in 1958 on the Pas Reserve, 400 miles north of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Isaac moved to Winnipeg, then to Minneapolis and later to Vancouver, British Columbia.
Outside of a few art classes, Isaac was a self-taught artist who developed his own style of sponge painting, of wildlife images distinguished by flowing lines.
"My art is strongly influenced by the traditional ways of my people. I was brought up to live off the land from an early age. Hunting and trapping, living in harmony with the earth has taught me to respect the animals and the spirit and power of nature. I hoop dance and sing at Pow Wows to maintain my cultural heritage.”
Isaac died at the peak of his career, at the age of 37, but his art remains his legacy.
Products designed by Isaac Bignell
Benjamin Chee Chee, Ojibway Artist
Born in Temagami, Ontario, Chee Chee largely taught himself to draw and paint. His father died when he was two months old and he lost track of his mother. One reason behind his drive for success as a painter was his ambition to be reunited with her.
He was a prominent member of the second generation of Woodland Indian painters, a native art movement that began in the early nineteen-sixties and has since become one of the important art schools in Canada.
Unlike many of his contemporaries, he painted in a style influenced by modern abstraction. While most of the young Woodland Indian artists were content to follow the style of the movement's founder, Norval Morrisseau, in depicting myths and legends by direct and "primitive" narrative means, Chee Chee pursued a more economical graphic style, a reduction of line and image more in keeping with the mainstream of international modern art.
At the age of thirty-two and at the height of a new-found success as an artist and printmaker, Chee Chee died tragically by committing suicide.
Products designed by Benjamin Chee Chee
"I am a visual storyteller. My work takes me on a spiritual journey that opens a door into the mysteries of creation. I love to play with colour in my work and I believe that color is a great healer."
Lee Claremont - Mohawk Artist
Lee Claremont was born in Woodstock, Ontario. She is of Mohawk and Irish ancestry and is a member of the Grand River Iroquois Six Nations in Oshweken, Ontario. Lee received her BFA (Honors) from the University of British Columbia and now resides in the beautiful Okanagan Valley in BC.
Lee has a strong commitment, enthusiasm and passion for her community, family and friends. She recently won an 'ANGEL AWARD' for the "largest individual creative contribution in the visual arts in the Okanagan Valley." She is a well-respected instructor at the En’Owkin Centre, an internationally recognized Aboriginal Educational College.
Lee Claremont's genre cannot be boxed or specifically, categorized. Her playful dance with colour and her imagery are fresh and alive. While her Mohawk ancestry is strongly evident it never supersedes her universality.
The art of Lee Claremont is exhibited locally, nationally and internationally and her paintings can be found in many government, corporate, and private collections throughout the world.
Artist Website
Products designed by Lee Claremont
"I see my art as a bridge between two cultures, as I share my knowledge in a visual interpretation that crosses the barriers of the spoken language."
Sue Coleman - Canadian Artist
Sue Coleman has earned international recognition for her distinctive watercolor paintings. Especially popular have been her 'Interpretive' Northwest Coast Indian images, which have been reproduced and sold to collectors worldwide. Sue's years of research have culminated in a book entitled "An Artist's Vision". Many of her native interpretive paintings, accompanied by legends and history, are displayed therein.
Sue maintains a studio in Cowichan Bay on Vancouver Island, Canada and paints a variety of subjects from misty west-coast scenes, wildlife, landscapes and more. She actively works to promote environmental awareness and wildlife conservation.
Her work is represented in Limited Edition Reproductions, Art cards, Posters, Collector's Plates, and several books, which she has both written and illustrated.
Artist Website
Products designed by Sue Coleman
"From all of my mentors I have developed an appreciation for coastal artists and their many variations of style and expression."
Rande Cook - Galapa, Kwakwaka'w Artist
Galapa (Rande Cook) was born in 1977 in the northern Vancouver Island town of Alert Bay, B.C., where he spent his early years before moving to Victoria in 1991. His grandparents, Gus and Florence Matlipi raised him with strong cultural views and ties to this rich heritage from the 'Namgis, Ma'amtagila and Mamalilikala tribes. Rande's grandfather taught him the essential elements of art and impressed upon him how art both reflects and connects to culture. Rande learned the importance of art and how it contributes to maintaining and preserving a flourishing culture.
Among his influences Rande credits his brother Will Cook Jr., William Wasden Jr., Beau Dick, Don Yeomans, Bruce Alfred and, most recently, John Livingston. During his apprenticeship with John, Rande has explored woodcarving, mask making, box design and numerous other forms of coastal First Nations art.
Products designed by Rande Cook
“When I create art, I do it to reflect where I’m from. It is the way I see the land, the animals and the people to which I belong. I create in order to share this point of view with the world.”
Andy Everson - Kwakwaka'wakw Artist
Andy Everson was born in Comox B.C. in 1972 and named Nagedzi after his grandfather, the late Chief Andy Frank. Influenced heavily by his grandmother, he has always been driven to uphold the traditions of both the K'ómoks and Kwakwaka’wakw First Nations. His cultural interests are expressed through dancing, singing, and even the completion of a Master’s degree in anthropology.
Andy feels that his artwork stands on par with these other accomplishments. Although he began drawing Northwest Coast art at an early age, his first serious attempt wasn’t until 1990 when he started designing and painting chilkat-style blankets for use in potlatch dancing. From these early self-taught lessons he has tried to follow in the footsteps of his Kwakiutl relatives in creating bold and unique representations that remain rooted in the age-old traditions of his ancestors.
Andy’s artwork is renowned for its contemporary edge that forges a connection between the past and the present.
Artist Website
Products designed by Andy Everson
"The more I carved, the more I realized that what I was carving came from my culture. That is why I believe that what I create is cultural art and it is my job to educate the public about my culture as much as I can to keep it alive."
Richard Hunt, Kwakiutl Artist
Richard Hunt (b.1951) is a Kwaguilth (Kwakiutl) Native from Fort Rupert, near the northern tip of Vancouver Island, B.C. The Hunt family has been at the center of traditional ceremonial life and carving for generations. Richard began carving at the age of 13 under his father, Henry Hunt, also a renowned artist.
In 1991, Richard was the recipient of the prestigious Order of British Columbia; the first Native artist to be so honoured and in 1994 became a member of the Order of Canada. In 2002, Richard received the Golden Jubilee Medal, the approved creation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in honour of her 50th anniversary of Her accession to the Throne, and presented to citizens of Canada "who have demonstrated exceptional qualities and outstanding service to their country". In May 2004, Richard was accepted into the membership of the Royal Academy of the Arts in recognition for his outstanding achievements within the visual arts.
In June 2004, Richard received a Honourary Doctorate of Fine Arts from the University of Victoria. This prestigious award has a special meaning to Richard because his late father, Henry Hunt was awarded the same degree in 1983.
Artist Website
Products designed by Richard Hunt
Alex Janvier, Canadian Artist
Alex Janvier, R.C.A. is Denesuline from Cold Lake First Nation, Alberta.
Alex's colorful original works of Art, often inspired by nature and his culture, include many murals. Known for his distinct curved lines, Alex brings light to Native and environmental issues with beauty and grace. He also designed a White Buffalo image on a $200 gold coin in 1998. His paintings have been exhibited internationally.
Over the years he has been acknowledged with several awards, such as Lift time Achievement at the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards.
Artist Website
Products designed by Alex Janvier
"The colourful Maple Leaf is the national emblem of Canada. Its vivid colours which range from pale yellow to deep orange and red bestow on the landscape of Eastern and Central Canada a blaze of glorious colour during the month of September and October."
Ruth Lund, Canadian Artist
Lund Crafts was founded in 1972 by Ruth Lund who wanted to bring new and exciting designs to the table of Canadian homes.
The very popular Lund Maple Leaf design was created on a sunny October day when Ruth picked up a leaf in her garden, a thought occurred to her, what if one could transfer these vivid coloured leaves onto textile. So she set to work and soon her work was sold in stores across Canada.
Over the years the Lund designs has found their way to homes around the world. A calendar was spotted in a hut in Africa and placemats has graced the tables of Chateau’s in the Lorie Vally and Bretagne in France.
With a powerful curiosity about other cultures and desire to meet, and to learn from others Ruth has traveled throughout the world all her adult life. She has lived and worked in eleven countries on four continents. Much of this work was as a volunteer with the Canadian organization CESO where she would spend a few weeks each year on an assignment in developing countries.
"My travels and working in these countries has resulted in many lasting friendships and some very enriching experiences" says Ruth, "and I feel blessed for this great opportunity".
Products designed by Ruth Lund
"Art is the purest and truest expression of an individual, in it are all manners of things one is not always able to express verbally."
Maxine Noel - Ioyan Mani, Sioux Artist
Ioyan Mani - to walk beyond - is Maxine's Sioux name and reveals her gift. Maxine is Oglala Sioux, born on the Birdtail Reservation in Manitoba. The eldest of eleven children, she learned to draw among a loving family on a quiet reserve. In residential school she experienced the struggles of submersion of the native spirituality and culture, which brought strength and enrichment.
A self-taught artist, Maxine is skilled in many media. She seeks through the use of fluid images, flowing lines and subtle colours, to present essential characteristics of the Native people: their sensibilities, generosity and loving nature. Maxine has received honours and accolades for her work with Native cultures, and she speaks around the country on art and on social issues, assisting in bridging the gap between Native and non-Native, young and old.
Products designed by Maxine Noel
"My art speaks and will continue to speak, transcending barriers of other forces that may be divisive, fortifying the greatness of the spirit that has always been the foundation of the Ojibwa people."
Norval Morrisseau - Ojibwa Artist
Norval Morrisseau described himself as a "born artist" who had a compulsion to draw from his earliest memories. He was a prolific artist and published author who was also a cornerstone to the art movement considered the woodland school of art. He received international acclaim for his art and was dubbed the "Picasso of the North" by world renowned artist Marc Chagall who, together with Pablo Picasso, attended a Morrisseau exhibit in 1969.
Morrisseau was the recipient of numerous honourary degrees, a membership in the Order of Canada, a membership in the Royal Academy of Arts, the Aboriginal Lifetime Achievement Award and was the first First Nations artist to have a solo exhibit in the National Gallery of Canada which now houses a permanent collection of his art. His work was also exhibited in the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. In recognition of his talents and contributions to the Aboriginal community, he was awarded a Great Eagle Feather and was appointed the Grand Shaman by the Ojibwa.
Products designed by Norval Morrisseau
"My work reflects my fascination with colour and the power of a joyful image to bring light to the soul at any time the spirit is in need of a reminder, that in beauty, there is peace."
Dawn Oman, Chippewyan Artist
Dawn Oman was born in Yellowknife, North West Territories, of Chippewyan and Welsh descent. Directly descended from Chief Snuff, who signed Treaty 8 with the Canadian Government, she began to draw as a means of silently amusing herself and staying out of her foster families' way. Since then, Dawn has exhibited across North America, opened her own Studio Gallery, and won awards and important commissions for her artwork. The Royal Canadian Mint Limited Edition 50 Cent Collectors coin in the 2003 Festival Series commemorating the Great Northern Arts Festival features Dawn's "Rising Star."
Dawn's main theme is winter; her snowy bright images capture the essence of the North in the dark time, cold, but full of colour. Her use of swirling colours representing the northern lights is a recognizable and recurrent theme throughout her works, as is her bold use of colour and brilliant combinations. What began as a way to make herself quietly invisible has brought an exuberant and joyful presence to the contemporary Canadian arts scene.
Artist Website
Products designed by Dawn Oman
Jessie Oonark, Keewatin Artist
Jessie Oonark was born in the area of northern Canada known as the Barren Lands, north and west of the present-day village of Baker Lake, Northwest Territories where she settled in the late 1950's. She spent her childhood and young adulthood in the traditional pursuits of Inuit women: dressing caribou and sealskins, and making parkas and other items of traditional clothing.
Oonark began her career as a graphic artist in 1959, when a Canadian biologist working in Baker Lake gave her art supplies. Her talent was immediately recognized, and she was soon creating drawings for sale. A selection of Oonark drawings were sent from Baker Lake to cape Dorset, the only Inuit settlement issuing prints at the time. Oonark thus became the first outsider ever included in the Cape Dorset print program.
A strong, bold, graphic imagery characterizes all of Oonark's work. She often features traditional dress, women's facial tattoos, and shamanistic themes in her art, yet these images usually appear as isolated, fragmentary forms. She then shapes these forms into a strikingly bold image, rather than straightforward narrative. Oonark is also well-known as a textile artist. Her wool and felt wall-hangings reveal her mastery of color and form.
Products designed by Jessie Oonark
Bill Reid, Haida Artist
One of Canada's foremost Native artists, Bill Reid is widely recognized as having revived the great tradition of Haida art. Born in Victoria, B.C., he is the grand-nephew of Haida artist Charles Edenshaw. Reid has applied innovative techniques to his artistic legacy and has passed on his valuable knowledge to younger artists.
Children of the Raven was designed by Bill Reid in 1976 for the National Museum of Man (now the Canadian Museum of Civilization). This image celebrates the creation of humankind by Raven. It now graces a series of products developed exclusively for the Canadian Museum of Civilization.
Products designed by Bill Reid
Jamie Sterritt - Wii Nagim Tts'uwingat, Gitksan Artist
Jamie Sterritt is a member of the Gitksan nation in the Skeena river area of northern British Columbia, now living in Hazelton with his wife and daughter. His work is based on traditional northwest coast design, and is true to Gitksan art. He acquired his interest in the art from his father and uncles who are accomplished artists and craftsmen in their own right. Jamie is a member of the Kispiox wolf clan. His Gitksan name is Wii Nagim Tts'uwingat.
Products designed by Jamie Sterritt
Cecil Youngfox - Ojibway Artist
Cecil Youngfox was born in 1942 in Blind River, Ontario, of Ojibway and Metis parents. As an established Canadian native artist, he was renowned for his vivid and sensitive depiction of native traditions, which gained the interest and respect of public and private collectors in Canada and abroad. He was awarded the Aboriginal Order of Canada for his work in preserving his native heritage.
Mr. Youngfox’s untimely death came in 1987 at age of 45. However, the inspiration in his art still lives on.
Products designed by Cecil Youngfox
