Tuesday, September 26, 2023


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


 

Thursday, September 21, 2023


 

 

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

Sunday, September 10, 2023


 

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


Saturday, August 19, 2023


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


 

Wednesday, August 2, 2023

 




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

Friday, July 28, 2023


 

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


Friday, July 21, 2023



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

-      #firstNationsart #nativeNorthwestart #nativeAmericanart 

-      #canadianAboriginalart #nativeindianart  #davidNeel #goldring #weddingring #goldweddingring

 


Wednesday, July 12, 2023



The Butterfly is a universal symbol of freedom and liberty. It is also one of the more graceful Northwest Native designs.

-      Butterfly pendant, Silver with gold accents

-       

-      #firstNationsart #nativeNorthwestart #nativeAmericanart 

-      #canadianAboriginalart #nativeindianart  #davidNeel

www.davidneelstudio.com


 

Monday, July 3, 2023



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.


 

Sunday, June 25, 2023


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


 

Thursday, June 15, 2023





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 

 


 

Sunday, June 4, 2023

 



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


Wednesday, May 24, 2023




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 


 

Wednesday, May 17, 2023



One of the most graceful form line designs, an Octopus in gold with a unique turquoise setting.

 

#firstNationsart #nativeNorthwestart #nativeAmericanart #canadianAboriginalart #nativeindianart  #davidNeel


Saturday, May 6, 2023




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 

 

Friday, April 28, 2023





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.

-      Eagle pendant, silver with gold accents.

 

#firstNationsart #nativeNorthwestart #nativeAmericanart #canadianAboriginalart #nativeindianart  #davidNeel 


Friday, April 21, 2023

 




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 


Tuesday, April 11, 2023



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 


 

Thursday, April 6, 2023


 

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