AnnieLaurie Burke

ARTIST'S STATEMENT

My art evolved from the ancient art forms of my great grandfather's people, the Eastern Cree of Quebec.

The Cree reverence for the Earth -- our Mother and Source of Life -- led me into my first career as an environmental engineer, then into independent study of Native American art. I see art and science as part of a continuum. I apply my scientific capabilities to art, and find that my art skills lead to creative solutions for technical problems.


OBSIDIAN

LEGACY

Just as I enjoy the mix of art and science in my life, I treasure the freedom to "mix media" in my artwork. My "bead mosaic" or "bead pointillism" is based on the traditional Native method. This ancient technique allows me to create contemporary art, using glass and gemstone beads as the pointillists used paint, to create effects of texture and light. Each original piece, created from my own drawings, takes 40 to 200 hours to complete.

Work in my other favorite media -- polymer clay sculpture, digital art and painting -- also reflects my appreciation for experimentation. Small sculpture was a traditional art form among native Canadians, but I render my sculpture in the modern medium of polymer clay.

My fascination with digital art has grown from my appreciation of the computer-as-tool in my engineering career. I use the computer for freehand drawing, and enjoy the freedom of form (and ease of correcting mistakes! ) that it gives me. Painting has been part of my life from my early childhood -- acrylics are fun because they are so easy to work with, and oil pastels provide an adult version of "playing with crayons".
GALVANIC REACTION

In all my work, I am captivated by the harmony of opposites -- combining realism with fantasy, modern with traditional, primitive with high-tech, and creating pieces that can be worn and displayed. I create my work to celebrate Nature through original art. MY GOAL IS TO MOTIVATE PEOPLE TO APPRECIATE OUR NATURAL WORLD THROUGH ART -- "ART FOR NATURE'S SAKE". My studio name, Xochitl, is "sunflower" in Na'huatl, the Aztec language. Artist's Website.