|
 Don Charbonneau, a member of the Blackfeet Tribe, grew up in Washington State and discovered his love for art at a young age. His main artistic inspiration came from his uncle, Don Hyde, who helped him initially develop his artistic skills by teaching him to sketch images from comic books. For the past thirty years, Don has utilized and refined his talent by painting a variety of surfaces from buildings to watercrafts. He is well known in the commercial art world, and his work can be seen from Alaska to Alabama.
Don is currently pursuing more traditional forms of art using watercolors, while incorporating techniques and materials from the commercial art industry. Many of his new pieces reveal his Blackfeet heritage and reflect traditional values and customs. Don’s work frequently includes images of horses, buffalo, and human forms on hides and drums. His use of contemporary methods to paint these figures enhances their dramatic effect and provides a distinctive point of view of historical subject matter. Don is a certified Peigan (Pikuni) artist and was featured twice as the Blackfeet Honored Artist of the Month at the Blackfeet Heritage Center in Browning, Montana. He now works out of his studio in Renton, Washington.
Many of the pieces shown may be purchased through the Pikuni Gift Shop located at the Museum of the Plains Indian. The gift shop can be reached at (406) 338-7957 or (406) 338-7954. After the show, Don can be contacted at 3525 South East Street, Renton, Washington 98058 or by email at pridecustomart@cs.com.
For hours of operation, call the Museum of the Plains Indian at (406) 338-2230.
|
 Reflections
December 13, 2009 - February 10, 2010
©
Don Charbonneau
Horse Spirit Drum. 2008
Wood, rawhide, oil based enamel, 17" x 17"
©2008 Don Charbonneau
Back to the Altar. 2009
Watercolor, 8: x 10"
©2009
Don Charbonneau
Bear Spirit Drum. 2008
Wood, rawhide, oil based enamel, 17" x 17"
©2008
Don Charbonneau
 Respecting the Spirit. 2009
Watercolor, 8" x 10"
©2009
Don Charbonneau
 Weeping Wall
©
Don Charbonneau
 Thunder Going Home
©
Don Charbonneau
|
