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$2,234.00
This original hand-painted Haida paddle art draws inspiration from the historical paddles of Haida Gwaii held in museum collections. As Alyson Bell studied these works, she noticed a shared structure, the consistent black outer edge, while the inner formline designs varied from piece to piece. That observation became the foundation for this design, which she refers to as 'Paddle Study.'
Using red, black, and a vibrant blue-green to represent patinated copper, Alyson's colour choice reflects the current goals in her practice to experiment with traditional colours. Alyson is using this time in her art journey to immerse herself in Haida historical works. Following the adage of "you need to know the rules before you can break them," a teaching credited to Robert Davidson, who explains that spending time to understand Haida art and formline is foundational to working as a Haida artist (Echoes of the Supernatural: The Graphic Art of Robert Davidson, 2022).
About the Artist: Emerging artist, Alyson Bell, belongs to the Iij’aaw Yahgu ‘Laanaas Raven Clan from Old Masset in Haida Gwaii. As a child, Alyson would accompany her grandfather to see his carving friends in their studios. She grew up surrounded by artists who inspire her to this day. In 2023, Alyson graduated from the Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art. In the fall of 2023, she began a formal apprenticeship with renowned Haida artist Robert Davidson.
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See more artwork by Alyson Bell, or explore our Haida paddle art and Haida art.
