Yesterday, this was just a block of wood from a 500 year-old red cedar tree. Today, there are so many possibilities; it can be carved into any character from the ancient stories. It was almost 40 years ago when Beau Dick & Wayne Alfred showed me how to rough-out a mask from block of wood. I was young then, and I did not realize how fortunate I was to learn from two of the masters.

 

I am undecided where to go with this mask. Who do you see in this rough chunk of

cedar?

 

#indigenousArt

#westcoastnativeArt

#firstnationsArt

#nativeamericArt

#northwestcoastnativeArt

#firstnationscarving

#westcoastnativeArt

www.davidneelstudio.com

 

The Thunderbird is my favorite design. It is my family’s main crest, and represents the first ancestor, from myth-time, when supernatural beings came down from above and lived & had children with the first people.

Thunderbird pendant, silver & gold, 1-3/4” diameter, hand engraving & repousse

 

#thunderbirdJewelry

#indigenousjewelry

#westcoastnativejewelry

#firstnationsjewelry

#nativeamericanjewelry

#northwestcoastnativejewelry

#firstnationsjewelryartists

#westcoastnativejewelry

www.davidneelstudio.com

 

Happy Indigenous Peoples Day to all the First People of North America. A little more than a hundred years ago we were referred to as the Vanishing Race. The way things are going, it looks like we may outlast the Dominant Culture!

 

#nativeAmerican

#indigenousPeoplesDay

#firstNations

#firstPeople

www.davidneelstudio.com

 

As a jeweler, I am honored to make pieces that symbolize important events and occasions. A pendant that I made for a special customer, to honor the passing of his brother.

Eagle Pendant, silver & abalone shell.

 

#EagleJewelry

#indigenousjewelry

#westcoastnativejewelry

#firstnationsjewelry

#nativeamericanjewelry

#northwestcoastnativejewelry

#firstnationsjewelryartists

#westcoastnativejewelry

www.davidneelstudio.com

 

The Raven is a complex character in First Nations traditional stories. He is ruthlessly selfish, although some of his deeds & misdeeds, such as creating the salmon, end up being beneficial.

Raven pendant, silver with gold accents.

 

www.davidneelstudio.com

#RavenJewelry

#indigenousjewelry

#westcoastnativejewelry

#firstnationsjewelry

#nativeamericanjewelry

#northwestcoastnativejewelry

#firstnationsjewelryartists

#westcoastnativejewelry

 

 

A new piece in my floral design series.

Orca & Orchid pendant, silver with sapphires.

 

www.davidneelstudio.com 

#OrcaJewelry

#indigenousjewelry

#westcoastnativejewelry

#firstnationsjewelry

#nativeamericanjewelry

#northwestcoastnativejewelry

#firstnationsjewelryartists

#westcoastnativejewelry

 

Something different with a Raven, the trickster combined with a floral design.

Silver with ruby settings.

 

#RavenJewelry

#indigenousjewelry

#westcoastnativejewelry

#firstnationsjewelry

#nativeamericanjewelry

#northwestcoastnativejewelry

#firstnationsjewelryartists

#westcoastnativejewelry 

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Two views of the Wild Man of the Woods mask, also known as the Bukwis. He is the Chief of the Ghosts, & if he tricks you into eating his food you are destined to stay in the Land of the Ghosts for eternity.

 

Man Transforming into a Wild Man mask

 

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#kwakiutArt

#indigenousArt

#westcoastnativeArt

#firstnationsArt

#nativeamericArt

#northwestcoastnativeArt

#firstnationscarving

#westcoastnativeArt

 

 

The Butterfly is an important symbol in Northwest Native stories. After the great deluge it revealed to the first ancestors that there was dry land.

Butterfly ring, white / yellow gold, & a ruby.

 

www.davidneelstudio.com

#butterflyJewelry

#indigenousjewelry

#westcoastnativejewelry

#firstnationsjewelry

#nativeamericanjewelry

#northwestcoastnativejewelry

#firstnationsjewelryartists

#westcoastnativejewelry

 

I am working on a series of pendants in this style, combining repousse with engraving.

Raven the Trickster pendant, sterling silver & abalone shell, 1-34” diameter.   

 

www.davidneelstudio.com

#RavenJewelry

#indigenousjewelry

#westcoastnativejewelry

#firstnationsjewelry

#nativeamericanjewelry

#northwestcoastnativejewelry

#firstnationsjewelryartists

#westcoastnativejewelry

 

The Raven is one of the most popular animal symbols for wedding and engagement rings. This one is for a surprise marriage proposal.

Raven white gold & diamond ring

www.davidneelstudio.com 

#NativeEngagementRing  

#diamondRing

#indigenousjewelry

#westcoastnativejewelry

#firstnationsjewelry

#nativeamericanjewelry

#northwestcoastnativejewelry

#firstnationsjewelryartists

#westcoastnativejewelry

 

I had a bit of difficulty getting this piece right, as sometimes the final look is not what I envisioned. But it is finished, after some trial and error.

Raven Falling from the Sky-World mask.

 

 www.davidneelstudio.com

#indigenousArt

#westcoastnativeArt

#firstnationsArt

#nativeamericArt

#northwestcoastnativeArt

#firstnationscarving

#westcoastnativeArt

 

A Raven & Sun pendant in progress. The repousse is complete, now to solder a cover on the back, inlay the abalone shell, & finally the cross hatching.

www.davidneelstudio.com

 

#Mythology

#RavenReleasingtheSun

#indigenousjewelry

#westcoastnativejewelry

#firstnationsjewelry

#nativeamericanjewelry

#northwestcoastnativejewelry

#firstnationsjewelryartists

#westcoastnativejewelry

 

 

In ancient tales, the Loon is more than just a bird—it’s a gateway to other realms. It guides heroes beneath the sea or into mystical mountains, opening doors to supernatural worlds.

Loon pendant, Sterling silver, hand engraved with repousse.

 

www.davidneelstudio.com

#Mythology

#Loon

#indigenousjewelry

#westcoastnativejewelry

#firstnationsjewelry

#nativeamericanjewelry

#northwestcoastnativejewelry

#firstnationsjewelryartists

#westcoastnativejewelry

 

I just learned that my print, Trial of Tears, will be in a Canada Council exhibition in Ottawa, CA. Created in 1991, it symbolizes the historic First Nations, Delgamuukw,  land claim trial in British Columbia, CA. Starting in the 1980’s I created a number of pieces about historic First Nations issues & events, and it is great that people are able to see them today through the lens of history.

 

www.davidneelstudio.com

#indigenouslandclaims

#westcoastnativegraphic

#firstnationslandclaims

#nativeamericanart

#northwestcoastnativelandclaim

#firstnationsart

#westcoastnativegraphic

 

A tribute to my ancestor, the great artist Chief Mungo Martin.

Thunderbird pendant - sterling silver, sapphires.

 

#indigenousjewelry

#westcoastnativejewelry

#firstnationsjewelry

#nativeamericanjewelry

#northwestcoastnativejewelry

#firstnationsjewelryartists

#westcoastnativejewelry

www.davidneelstudo.com

 

Working on something different, a Raven design incorporating a floral element

Raven pendant, silver with rubies

www.davidneelstudio.com 

#indigenousjewelry

#westcoastnativejewelry

#firstnationsjewelry

#nativeamericanjewelry

#northwestcoastnativejewelry

#firstnationsjewelryartists

#westcoastnativejewelry

 

A gift for a customer, who, like me, appreciates a design on a wide bracelet.

Family of Eagles bracelet, silver with oxidization

www.davidneelstudio.com

#indigenousjewelry

#westcoastnativejewelry

#firstnationsjewelry

#nativeamericanjewelry

#northwestcoastnativejewelry

#firstnationsjewelryartists

#westcoastnativejewelry

 

Here is a one-of-a-kind piece, for an anniversary gift:  a Butterfly pendant with a one carat black diamond

 

 www.davidneelstudio.com

#indigenousjewelry

#westcoastnativejewelry

#firstnationsjewelry

#nativeamericanjewelry

#northwestcoastnativejewelry

#firstnationsjewelryartists

#westcoastnativejewelry

 

 

There is nothing like the joy of engraving a wide bracelet. 

Dogfish silver bracelet with oxidization

 www.davidneelstudio.com 

#NativeAmericanpendant #NativeAmericanravenjewelry #NativeAmericanwolfjewelry

#NativeIndianwolfjewelry

#Nativeindianjewelry

#NorthwestnativeAmericanbracelet

#NorthwestnativeAmericanjewelry

 

The Oka Crisis of 1990 was a turning point in First Nations & Canadian history. The town of Oka, Quebec tried to replace a Mohawk burial ground with a gold course, which led to a 78 - day armed stand-off, between Mohawk Warriors & the Canadian military.

 The names in red are the warriors who manned the barricades & the names in gray are the warriors who were sent to prison. The photograph is of Canadian soldiers patrolling the concertina wire, at the perimeter of the Mohawk stand-off.

 Currently, it is being exhibited in an exhibition, “Future Memoria”, at the Surrey Art Gallery.

#okacrisis  #firstnations #mohawkwarriors

ww.davidneelstudio.com

According to the traditional legends, animals could take human form in ancient times.

-      Thunderbird transforming to Human pendant, silver & gold

 

www.davidneelstudio.com 

-      #NativeAmericanpendant #NativeAmericanravenjewelry

-      #NativeAmericanwolfjewelry

-      #NativeIndianwolfjewelry

-      #Nativeindianjewelry

-      #NorthwestnativeAmericansilverpendant

-      #NorthwestnativeAmericanjewelry

 

 

I am having trouble deciding if I want to add more paint to this mask, or let the wood grain show.

Raven Falling Down from the Sky-world mask

 

www.davidneelstudio.com

#NativeAmericanart #NativeAmericanart

#NativeAmericanmask

#NativeIndianart

#Nativeindiancarving

#NorthwestnativeAmericanart

#NorthwestnativeAmericancarving