I’ve been feeling the urge to draw some Native American Indian faces – well – to be honest – it’s always there in the background but I hold back and don’t get down to it as I want to get it right so badly that when it goes wrong it kills me.
The combination of long hair, feathers, fringes and their sheer presence has always appealed to me because of its wildness and naturalness.
Two of the best Native American Indian portrait artists in my view are Howard Terpning and Harley Brown.
Both of them paint in a masterful and emotive way that stops me in my tracks.
I once started to read “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee” by Dee Brown but had to stop reading quite early on in as it is just so tragic.
I love painting and drawing these people and hope you enjoy a look at some of my sketches and pastels that I have done over the years.
There are many books of FIRST PEOPLES images including Edward Curtis’ “The North American Indian” & “Portraits” (some unfortunately posed in head dress) . Curtis’ potrait of De Gaza is a tragic image.
dk
Yes Dave – I agree – thanks
Thanks Milka – all of these are drawn from photos that are over 100 years old. There are so many to choose from!
These are stunning!
Many thanks Fwaire! What do you like about them?
They feel so rustic but then there’s so much attention to detail. It really seems to capture their personalities. You get a sense of their wildness and also of their quiet dignity. Really breath taking. I especially love the first one, the original pencil study. I think the simplicity of it just being done in pencil seems to really add to the effect.
It is interesting to me to hear what you feel about them – I like the way you describe quiet dignity – I think that is what I see too – thanks!
Very nice! Did you draw these from old photographs or just out of your head?