T-Shirts
- Medium-weight, good quality, 100% cotton T-shirts in major brand names. Currently using Port Authority and Gildan.
- Hand screened on a silkscreen press.
- Durable long-lasting inks that print with a soft hand. No decals, and no thick plastic design on your shirt.
- Every shirt comes with a card explaining the design.
- All my original designs are copyright-protected.
- All the images are printed on the front.
Whale Couple
I was asked to create an image that symbolized the marriage of two people deeply in love. I chose the orca, as it is strong and free yet needs its own kind to feel whole. Together, the whales form a sacred circle of unity and trust. Within each whale are two ravens. Ravens are the tricksters, the strong mysterious power that is so prevalent in Northwest Coastal tribal legends. They are survivors.These ravens are swallowing the orcas while all are simultaneously giving one another strength and knowledge. It is this symbiotic relationship that completes the circle, giving the marriage a life of its own.
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Heron
Heron was a traditional crest animal for some of the people living on the North Coast. Heron was considered a good lookout, as it would raise the alarm when humans came near. I rendered Heron in traditional black and red. Some tribal groups would use blue or green/gray. This was an unusual departure from the norm, as colors closer to nature were rarely used. Here, Heron is calmly flying away after sounding the alarm.
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Raven II
This rendition of Raven is available only in Jet Black.
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Old Man of the Sea
Sea turtles are not a traditional Northwest Coastal crest or icon. However, contemporary artists have rendered images of sea turtles to honor their ability to swim long distances and promote awareness of their endangered status. I have chosen the sea turtle to represent the earth we live on. The shell is stylized like an old mask, which represents both humans living on the "shell" of the earth's surface and the wisdom the old turtle accumulated over the years. The "Old Man" is depicted swimming, not just through the sea but through time, reminding us that nature is endless and will be here long after we are gone.
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Salmon Boy
This traditional Northwest Coast story describes the creation of the salmon runs that allow the people to harvest the fish each spring and fall: Once there was an adolescent boy who was skeptical of the ways of his elders. Tradition held that when eating salmon, to show respect for the fish, one threw the bones back into the river; thus, the spirit of the fish would rejoin their kin in a good way. This boy defied tradition, tossing the salmon bones on the shore instead. Raven noticed this and discussed it with the salmon. The salmon, highly insulted, refused to return to the river. The people began to go hungry. When the boy realized he was the cause of his people's hardship, he threw himself into the river to drown. Upon seeing his act of desperation, the salmon transformed him into a large salmon. Ever since, Salmon Boy has led the salmon up river each season to feed the people. Salmon Boy is represented with his hand outstretched, beckoning his sisters and brothers upstream.
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Bear Star Father
This image celebrates the Bear Father of the Bear family or clan. The traditional story of the Bear Mother meeting the Bear Father while berry picking is well known. She eventually marries the bear and bears him two cubs. Her family ultimately rescues her, returning her to her home and the founding of the bear family. This is Bear Father, roaming the forest in search of the woman who will bear his children. She is depicted inside him, her hands displayed representing the two children she will give him.
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Salmon Boy II
This rendition of Salmon Boy is only available in Jet Black.
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Eagle Salmon
I once lived by a large remote river. During salmon season, the eagles were hard at work harvesting their share. For the fish, it was a race against time in order to flourish. I wanted to commemorate this eternal struggle of survival for both fish and bird. Although Eagle is in the dominant position, Salmon is tenacious, hanging onto Eagle as well as life itself.
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Raven Sun
In Northwest Coast mythology, the Sun and Raven are often intertwined. Without Raven's intervention, Sun would still be hidden in the old Chief's box. Both Sun and Raven are considered the givers of life as well as the creators of havoc and mischief. I have chosen to depict this enigma by merging the images: Raven has become the Sun's rays, and the Sun's nose is Raven's beak. Sun's tongue is shown in a classic display of power, to remind us that without Sun, our world would be cold and lifeless.
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Bat
In traditional Northwest Coastal Art, bats were not represented as drawings or carvings. A few years ago, I was asked to draw a bat using traditional formline. In researching bats, i realized how valuable they are to humanity and to our environment. Their beauty and interesting anatomy inspired me to incorporate the hand "art" in the wing, since bat wings are really their hands. This bat is drawn three times the size of the Townsend's bat in real life.
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Fox
Fox has a long history with humanity. However, the Northwestern Coastal Indigenous people did not recognize or integrate Fox into their art of family crests. Other cultures’ mythologies have many stories associated with Fox, who has successfully lived with humans around the world. Fox is known for their cunning intelligence and ability to be very stealthy when needed. They are also known to be caring parents. I have depicted Fox all curled up, with a representational human inside the iconic, bushy tail.
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Wandering Wolf
There is an old story about an ancient flood that forced the first wolves to separate to find higher ground. After much howling the wolves were reunited, and made the first contact with humans. I have shown Wolf searching for his kin. Wolves were known for their strength, agility, courage and ability to communicate. In traditional stories there is a link between Wolf and Orca that suggests transformation, not only physically, but spiritually as well. Traditional renditions of Wolf usually include a long snout, long ears, sharp teeth and some form of a curved tail.
Eagle Circle
I once visited British Columbia in the springtime. While sitting on a hillside overlooking the ocean, two eagles riding on an updraft flew so close to me that I could clearly see them staring at me. The image of being surrounded by eagles was very strong. This print commemorates that vision of a circle of eagles in springtime, staring into my very being
Gray Whale
Long ago, gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) were hunted by some NW Coastal people. Now gray whales are making a come back from near extinction. There is still controversy over subsistence hunting of the whales. They are quite common in the representational art of the Coastal people. I chose to have the Gray Whale breaching, celebrating her freedom in the ocean. Gray whales winter in several remote lagoons in Baja California, Mexico. There, they give birth, and begin their migration to the Chukchi Sea north of Alaska. These iconic, gentle and intelligent creatures have one of the longest migration routes stretching from Mexico to north of Alaska.
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Orca
Orca has long been prominent in the stories and traditions of the Northwest Coastal Native people. Not only are Orcas crest animals, they are closely associated with their land-bound counterpart, the wolf. Some say the first Orcas were supernatural white wolves. They share similar attributes as excellent hunters, with their powerful bodies, cunning intelligence, and lasting devotion to their clan. Orcas are associated with prosperity, dignity, and long life. I have chosen to show Orca in the breach position, powerful and free. In the center of Orca resides Wolf. Clinging to the dorsal fin is a stylized human figure to remind us of Orca's close association with humans. There are stories of drowned mariners and chiefs becoming Orcas that help others at critical times. There could be an even closer proximity to Orcas that has yet to be uncovered. Perhaps the old stories are coming true.
Goose in the Moon
Traditionally, Goose was a rare family crest. Goose was thought to have special powers because it could move across the land, sea and air. Thus, it was able to cross over to the spirit realm and back to the earth. I once was camping on a large lake. As the moon rose, I noticed a flock of geese resting on the water. Just as the moon cleared the trees, the geese were disturbed and flew. The silhouette of the goose crossing the moon was inspiring.
Otter
For the northern indigenous cultures, the Otter represented powerful guardian spirits and their spirit helpers. This was because of Otter's close association with humans, especially the shaman. Otter also represented strength and resourcefulness. Otter was regarded as an intelligent and agile spirit, full of lightheartedness and laughter. I have chosen to represent Otter as a trio swimming in a circle, perhaps playing with our senses or in a game tag in the cold pristine waters of the Pacific Northwest coast.
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