My Grandson carved a pike with native influences

[Frank Pellow]

Ethan (11 years old) has a school project where he needs to draw something and make up a legend about it. He hasn't yet completed the story, but the gist of it will be that lightning struck a log and turned it into a pike. Ethan has permission from his teacher to carve something instead of doing a simple drawing.  The item that he decided upon is a pike in the North American native west coast style.

In the end, his pike is more true to life than the abstract style favoured by the various Pacific Coast First Nations.  It does contain some of their symbols and is heavily influenced by their carving.  Maybe Ethan is developing his own style.

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The design is about 80 % Ethan's and 20% mine.

The carving is about half mine and half Ethan's.

The painting is about 90% Ethan's and 10% mine.

I think that Ethan did an outstanding job and am looking forward to hearing the complete legend.  It is supposed to be finished and submitted this week.

 

[bkharman]

Wow Frank!

He (and you) did a great job on that!  I spent many summers in the NW (including many weeks in BC and NW Territories) and love that artistry.  We started a totem in Toad River, BC with some surfing/snowboarding buddies and intended to take it to Yellowknife to barter on some stuff, but we woke to find it missing one morning from our campsite.  We asked around (all 10 people that we could find!!) but no sign of it.  I am hoping that one day i see it somewhere and get my picture with it.  We got through the three stacked bears, and were part way through the orca... shame really, it was over 20 years ago, but I remember that experience like it was yesterday.

Again, tell Ethan he has made something to be truly proud of!

cheers

Bryan