I was just learned that
my Nuclear Disaster Mask is in an exhibition at the El Paso Art Museum, in
Texas. Interesting, as had my first public exhibition in Texas in 1985.
#canadianAboriginalart #nativeindianart #davidNeel
#firstNationsart #nativeNorthwestart #nativeAmericanart
www.davidneelstudio.com
Every decade or two I
make a pendant for myself. This time I decided that it should be a bit special,
like a 23K gold Thunderbird pendant with a matching 23K gold chain. I am trying
to decide if I will add abalone shell inlays or not.
#firstNationsart #nativeNorthwestart #nativeAmericanart
#canadianAboriginalart #nativeindianart #davidNeel
A unique piece that I
just made for a customer using her heirloom diamond, which is well suited to
this style of band. Hummingbird ring, gold with a princess cut diamond
#firstNationsart #nativeNorthwestart #nativeAmericanart
#canadianAboriginalart #nativeindianart #davidNeel
www.davidneel.com
In the ancient stories
Mink is a trickster, and one day he went in search of a wife. He asked Loon to
let him ride on his back. Loon dove under water and passed under a mythical
mountain, and when they emerged they were in the sky world.
Loon bracelet, silver,
gold & aquamarine.
#firstNationsart #nativeNorthwestart #nativeAmericanart
#canadianAboriginalart #nativeindianart #davidNeel
www.davidneelstudio.com
Siwidi was publicly shamed by his father, the chief of the village. Feeling dejected, he went into the forest and bathed in 4 lakes. The last one flooded & covered the land. An octopus took him to the undersea world of Lord Komokwa & he received supernatural treasures.
Octopus pendant, silver & gold.
#firstNationsart #nativeNorthwestart #nativeAmericanart
#canadianAboriginalart #nativeindianart #davidNeel
Once, there was no sun Raven knew that an old man & his
daughter had it. He transformed into a leaf which the daughter ate & had a
child. The old man let the child play with the sun & Raven flew away but
the sun escaped, so we have the sun today
#firstNationsart #nativeNorthwestart #nativeAmericanart
#canadianAboriginalart #nativeindianart #davidNeel #ravenAndSun
A chief’s daughter was abducted by the bears. She married the
son of the chief & they had 4 children. Her brothers found the bear village
and came for her. Her husband offered his life if his children would be spared
- Bear Mother gold ring
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#firstNationsart #nativeNorthwestart #nativeAmericanart
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#canadianAboriginalart #nativeindianart #davidNeel #goldring
#weddingring #goldweddingring
The Butterfly is a
universal symbol of freedom and liberty. It is also one of the more graceful
Northwest Native designs.
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Butterfly
pendant, Silver with gold accents
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#firstNationsart #nativeNorthwestart #nativeAmericanart
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#canadianAboriginalart #nativeindianart #davidNeel
www.davidneelstudio.com
This portrait style
frontlet of a chief’s late daughter from the 1800’s was a big influence on my
work. The mask is my portrait of my ancestor, Chief Mungo Martin. I have carved
masks like this of a number of my ancestors, although portrait masks are almost
a lost tradition in Northwest coast Native art.
#firstNationsart #nativeNorthwestart #nativeAmericanart
#canadianAboriginalart #nativeindianart #davidNeel
I do enjoy making wide
bands. Having a few extra millimeters really makes a difference when engraving
a design.
Bear ring, yellow gold
with white gold trim, & a ½ carat diamond.
#firstNationsart #nativeNorthwestart #nativeAmericanart
#canadianAboriginalart #nativeindianart #davidNeel
It is a pleasure to
make jewelry pieces that symbolize important events in people's lives. Like
this Eagle ring, in silver, gold & diamond
#firstNationsart #nativeNorthwestart #nativeAmericanart
#canadianAboriginalart #nativeindianart #davidNeel
www.davidneelstudio.com
In ancient times, a Frog
took Sewid down to the undersea world of Lord Komokwa. Sewid received supernatural
gifts & witnessed the songs & dances of Komokwa. When he was returned
to the upper world, he found that he had not been gone one day, but 4 years.
Supernatural Frog Bracelet,
silver & abalone shell.
#firstNationsart #nativeNorthwestart #nativeAmericanart
#canadianAboriginalart #nativeindianart #davidNeel
After 20 years of
making art, I want to improve my flat design so I started sketching 1 hour every
day, for 3 years. Then, to test myself, I made the “Final Exam” silver & 24K
gold box, which was based on a piece, of the same name, by the legendary artist
Bill Reid. Two years ago, my box was displayed at the Bill Reid Gallery in
Vancouver, alongside the box of the master.
#firstNationsart #nativeNorthwestart #nativeAmericanart
#canadianAboriginalart #nativeindianart #davidNeel
www.davidneelstudio.com
One of the most
graceful form line designs, an Octopus in gold with a unique turquoise setting.
#firstNationsart #nativeNorthwestart #nativeAmericanart #canadianAboriginalart #nativeindianart #davidNeel
A Humpback Whale
Pendant that I made for a customer who, while kayaking, had an encounter with a
Humpback whale pod, that were “singing” together. That must have been something
to witness.
#firstNationsart #nativeNorthwestart #nativeAmericanart #canadianAboriginalart #nativeindianart #davidNeel
A pendant I made for my
niece, Marissa, to celebrate her recent kidney transplant. It is an Eagle
coming down from the sky world with a kidney in its mouth.
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Eagle
pendant, silver with gold accents.
#firstNationsart #nativeNorthwestart #nativeAmericanart #canadianAboriginalart #nativeindianart #davidNeel
Woodpecker’s wife was
able to produce salmon berries at will, so the Myth People always had lots of
berries. Thunderbird saw this and abducted her. Woodpecker and his people
transformed themselves into salmon and allowed themselves to be caught by
Thunderbird’s people. Then, Woodpecker was able to take his wife and return to
their village.
Thunderbird pendant,
gold & sapphire.
#firstNationsart #nativeNorthwestart #nativeAmericanart #canadianAboriginalart #nativeindianart #davidNeel
I carved the Digital Trickster mask over 20 years ago & the digital age was just on the horizon. Who Knew how fast things would progress. Today, Musk says that A.I. is a threat to humanity & futurist Ray Kurzweil predicts we will merge with machines #ArtificialIntelligence #firstNationsart #nativeNorthwestart #nativeAmericanart #canadianAboriginalart #nativeindianart #davidNeel
A lot of detail can fit
onto a 1” piece of gold, if you put your mind to it.
Thunderbird pendant, gold
with a sapphire eye
#firstNationsart #nativeNorthwestart #nativeAmericanart #canadianAboriginalart
#nativeindianart #davidNeel
