Thunderbird School of Shamanistic Arts

Here is a link to my album at the Shamanistic Arts Sight.

http://shamanisticarts.com/magic/m/photos/browse/album/waabaanakwad-s-photos/owner/waabaanakwad&page=1&per_page=37

I do intend to update my site here, but I'm busy drawing things like this.

"Telling the Truth" Copyright don wright 2012

I am trying to use continuous lines, to help feel and accentuate the vibrations and connectivity to forms. I am starting from scratch with a pen or pencil and I am trying to develop my own style and conventions.

cheers

under construction

currently engaged in real life adventure....please stand by...more to come

Matt's Mind

"Matt's Mind" Copyright don wright 2009

acrylic on hardboard

gifted to Matt

I was asked to paint a small simple painting for a college student who loves canoeing and the outdoors. It is for his dorm to remind him of his love for mother earth. He also wanted it Woodland Style has he has become interested in native art. So I made this for him. 

I pray that as he looks at this painting that he be reminded of the great gift that is ours. I pray that it will bring thanksgiving and respect for mother earth. I pray that as he sees the medicine wheel, he be reminded not only of people group unity, but of the great Anishinaabe spirit. I pray that he continues to learn and grow, that he would be continuously attracted to the light and blossom to become a kind, loving and peaceful man on this planet.

Subliminal Inspiration - Spirit Rock Sept 2009

As I was going through old blog posts, I found this picture from a personal sojourn at Spirit Rock Lake, Chee-skon-abikong. My sense is that experience became ingrained in my mind and when Matt asked for a simple painting of his love for the outdoors, Matts mind became a natural response. Perhaps I can take Matt there some day.

Spirit Rock, Chee-skon-abikong Lake

"At the place of the huge rock"

The Teme-Augama, Nipissings and other aboriginals come alone, or in groups, to seek guidance at this ancient spot or within its spiritual shadow northeast of Obabika Lake. They have, and continue, to come to fast, heal or dream. There were once three natural rock columns. Only two remain standing today. The sacred area has been attracting growing numbers of people in the last few years who are seeking a return to their spiritual roots and traditions.

"Brian Back"

http://www.ottertooth.com/Temagami/PhotoMonth/tem-photo-jun01.htm

Seed of Creation

"Seed of Creation" Copyright don wright 2009

acrylic on canvas

gifted to my friend Ron

http://keepupwithdon.blogspot.com/2009_11_01_archive.html

I grew up with the bible story of Noahs Ark. As I grew, I began to understand the ark more in terms of Gods grace and forgiveness. There are many life lessons that have come from the ark teaching. When I began to see knowledge of the Ojibway, I learned about the turtle. The turtle to the Anishinaabe is the Ark to the Christian. One of the accounts I read said that the son of the creator rode on the turtle in the great flood. He gave of himself in order for the son of creator to reestablish on Turtle Island. I understood immediately.

So in this painting I pictured the seed of creation, son of creator being divinely carried by the turtle. The Turtle became mother, protector and redeemer as Gods magnificent plan unfolded. It is a story of beauty and redemption.

Guardian

"Guardian" Copyright don and sue wright 2009

acrylic on canvas

artist collection

http://keepupwithdon.blogspot.com/2009/11/guardian.html

and God Came Down and Touched Creation

"and God Came Down and Touched Creation"

copyright don wright 2009

pencil and paper

artist collection

http://keepupwithdon.blogspot.com/2011/02/and-god-came-down-and-touched-creation.html

And there was light and much rejoicing!

The Great Spirit of Love

"The Great Spirit of Love" copyright don and sue wright 2009

acrylic on canvas

painted by don and sue wright

artist collection

Sue painting Nov 2009

http://keepupwithdon.blogspot.com/2009/11/great-spirit-of-love.html

So here is the underlying thought behind this piece. I am separated from my wife a lot due to work and play. While I am away, I feel a very strong sense that I am still right beside her. I feel that our connection is a spiritual one which is full of love and faithfulness. Its like the path home morphs into a likeness of her in my dreams. My dreams are almost sensual as I and my path embrace her. The two purple feathers celebrate native reverence toward the feather and adherence to respect. The red of love contains these feathers as a sign of reverence out of love vs out of law. The red heart is on the bottom right because its is a love celebration and my spiritual journey begins at this point. God, The Great Spirit is represented as the sun. The source. The background is white but is textured like the petals of a flower.
  
While my wife was painting, I showered her with love and praise. . As she painted I praised her beauty and how she was creating a wonderful expression, all in the great Spirit of Love.

waabaanakwad's mushroom

"Waabaanakwads Mushroom" - copyright © don wright 2009

pencil and paper

artist collection

"Waabaanakwads Mushroom" - copyright © don wright 2009

digital reverse image

http://keepupwithdon.blogspot.com/2009/11/learning-from-masters-join-me-on.html

My coach told me that the great Spirit can really flow through doodle. I tried a few doodles and handing over the reigns to this higher Spirit power. I was astounded. Coach was able to understand many of the deeper meanings that arose from the doodle. What the heck....here it is. Tell me what you think. Dont forget, I am a rising thunderbird and am passed the point of fear.

Waabigwan Sings Praises

"waabigwan sings praises to the creator" copyright don wright 2009

acrylic on paper

collection of the artist

http://keepupwithdon.blogspot.com/2009/11/waabigwan-sings-praises-to-creator.html

This is my wife. She is a flower and a lover of children. She sings praises to the creator. She is strong and she stands by me. She is the gentle giant. She has wings and she has gentle hands. She sings praises to the creator. She is a rainbow.

Waabaanakwad Sees the Light

"waabaanakwad sees the light" copyright don wright 2009

acrylic on paper

collection of artist

http://keepupwithdon.blogspot.com/2009/11/waabaanakwad-sees-light.html

I dedicate this painting to myself. Thats me in the pic. Elder Alex Mathias let me try on his head dress. I finally got long hair!, and I tried to use rainbow heart colors. I even included a heart cause thats what Patti Rainbow would have done and Ritchie suggested that whatever I painted, he was sure it would be loving. So here is to me....watch me grow. 

waabaanakwads dream

"waabaanakwad's dream" copyright don wright 2009

signed on back, acrylic on canvas

gifted to my sister Kim Nesbitt (Wright)

painted by don and sue wright

http://keepupwithdon.blogspot.com/2009/11/fun-with-paint.html

http://keepupwithdon.blogspot.com/2009/11/waabaanakwads-dream.html

Lifelines

"Lifelines" copyright© don wright 2009

 unsigned acrylic on paper

artists colllection

I was inspired by a picture sent to me by a freind. Peoples images had been reduced to a spirit level with colors telling part of the story. This minimalist view helped to magnify the story. A musician friend once said that the best note was the one you didnt play.

So armed with imagination, a concept and a need to practice lines, I created this art. I call it Lifelines. I tried to reduce important things to lines. I tried to show earth, wind, fire and water. I tried to show animate and inanimate. I tried to show the importance of love and spirit and how everything fits together in balance. I tried to weave man into the equation and how these things both sustain him yet puzzle him.

Thunderbird Heart

So here it is. My first attempt at Shamanistic Art. Actually, its my first ever attempt at "fine" art...fine..hahha, I made it with pencil crayons and a sharpie. I call it Thunderbird Heart. 

"Thunderbird Heart" Copyright don wright 2009

unsigned, untitled, crayon and sharpie

artist's collection

I dedicate this personal expression,

to the Grand Shaman, 

Copper Thunderbird, 

Norval Morrisseau. 

  
Ritchie Stardreamer Sinclair, protege and apprentice to the great Norval Morrisseau, suggested that I was probably a Thunderbird School Artist. So, I decided, one could never be a Thunderbird Artist if one was afraid to try....so here it is.  Although it is juvenile, I love this art piece. It was the beginning of a grand journey and it was nice to begin in honor of Norval Morrisseau.
  

Thunderbird Heart recognizes the Big Heart of Love that Norval had. At the center of this heart is the medicine wheel because from his heart came healing and greater understanding. Norvals heart is attached to his tongue and his mind and his eyes as he translated the principles of people unity of all being well and all being one. The Great Spirit binds these principles and returns them to Mother Earth for generations to come and sees no differance between people.

Signatures

When I first began to paint, I did not care about how I signed my work. Some of my early work was unsigned.

"The Great Spirit of Love" Copyright don wright

An artist told me it was important to sign my work, and so I began to sign with a simple W.

"Waabaanakwad Sees the Light" Copyright don wright

Another artist friend of Cree descent, sent me a signature as a gift. Since my wife and I began to paint together, the signature was cree syllabic for donandsue. I would draw the lines and she would apply the paint.

Painting became much more ecstatic. Images began to free flow without prior drawing and my wife no longer helped me, though I continued to sign donandsue in Syllabics There are many paintings with the donandsue signature.

"In The Garden Series" Copyright don wright

After I finished the Young Thunderbird piece, I began to sign my work with the simple cree syllabic for don.

This is how I currently sign my work. I try to give each painting a title and I sign my given name don wright on the back. I DONT USE, NOR WILL I EVER USE A DRY BRUSH SIGNATURE. This is a personal choice in honor of my mentors. I will use a pen or a pencil.

waabaanakwad art gallery

I am beginning work on a virtual art gallery and catalog of my work. I am a young artist, developing my wings. All of my work is copyright don wright and trade marked by The Thunderbird School of Shamanistic Art, of which I am a student and apprentice. Images or words may not be taken without my consent.