The art I create is rooted in my relationships. I portray traditional symbols, the eagle, the buffalo, and the circle, for which I hold strong beliefs. Many of my compositions are circular, and evocative of Lakota star knowledge. I often draw my relatives, my immediate family and my tiospaye (kinship ties). Through my art, I also celebrate the place of Native People in the family of all our relations. My art is comprised of diverse media forms. I tend to see most anything as a possible canvas and have experimented with various media such as neon light, mixed media, airbrush, bark paper, and collages. Umbrellas, motorcycles and abandoned satellite dishes have all made ready canvases for my expressions. Most of my technique involves working with acrylics. I incorporate beadwork, collage and other media into my paintings. My techniques vary according to the feel of each piece. I like to experiment and challenge myself. My goal is to inspire Native children to achieve their full potential. I would like to leave my mark as an artist in a way serves Native people. I have been drawn to the arts since my youth and I have been encouraged to pursue this interest by my family. My grandmother was well known for her intricate Lakota beadwork and my father paints scenes from the memory of his own boyhood on the Cheyenne River Reserve in Green Grass, South Dakota. 2006 was a special year as I was awarded a Smithsonian Fellowship with the National American Indian Museum and a month long residency at the Vermont Studio Center. I am an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Lakota Sioux Tribe; I am also Onondoga/Iroquois on my mother’s side. I grew up in South Dakota, and earned my bachelor of Science degree in Art from Marion College in Marion, Indiana in 1981. In addition to creating art, I enjoy doing many things with my family, including riding motorcycles, running, and dancing. I live in the beautiful He Sapa Black Hills with my wife Ruth and our son, Gabe.