- Original Painting Available - SOLD
- Limited Edition Giclée Prints - 24x18 (Limited Edition of 25)
Native American & Western Paintings by Sharon Brening
Sharon takes off on journeys back to Navajo land, Hopi or to pueblos and villages in New Mexico with the encouragement of her own family. She has formed lasting friendships with many of the families whose children she paints portraits of; some of whose portraits she has painted over and over throughout the years. Each portrait sold helps compensate the family as well.
-
Wylde is featured in this delightful painting. The scene takes place in Colorado, near Steamboat. One never knows what is out in the forest. Thank goodness Wylde has the little Woodchucks watching out for him.
-
I feel honored to have won the gold award for “I Saw and Eagle Fly”, and excited to be the first female to receive the award from Western Artists of America at the Pearce Western Art Museum. This is a portrait of Aaron, he is the grandson of the late world famous artist Doc Tate Nevaquaya.. “Aaron’s grandfather was very accomplished and traveled the world, I feel Aaron will be the next Doc Tate”, Audrey Whitefeather, mother of Aaron. In the 1970s, the Metropolitan Museum of Art came to Apache, Oklahoma and did a documentary about Doc Nevaquaya and his flutes. Charles Kuralt has visited him for CBS. He has appeared at the Smithsonian Institution, as well as in concerts and lectures throughout Europe and the Far East. After Doc received the National Heritage Fellowship Award, he received letters of recognition and congratulations from former President Reagan. The Comanche people took pride in their hair, which was worn long and rarely cut. They arranged their hair with porcupine quill brushes, greased it and parted it in the center from the forehead to the back of the neck. They painted the scalp along the parting with yellow, red, or white clay (or other colors). They wore their hair in two long braids tied with leather thongs or colored cloth, and sometimes wrapped with beaver fur. They also braided a strand of hair from the top of their head. This slender braid, called a scalp lock, was decorated with colored scraps of cloth and beads, and a single feather.
- Original Painting SOLD
- Limited Edition Giclée Prints - 16 x 20
-
I started painting Skye when she was just and infant so I am thrilled that I can now introduce her younger sister Breezy to all my friends and collectors. Wild and Thunder are the brothers whom I also capture on canvas. The siblings are Diné (Navajo) with Mother’s clan being ‘Cliff Dwellers’ and Father’s clan being ‘Mud Clan’. Maternal Grandfather’s clan ‘Nooda’ which is Ute tribe and paternal Grandfather’s clan is ‘Chi’shii’ which is Chiriquaha Apache. In the painting, there is a pitch pot on the left side of Skye. This is almost a lost art; these bottles are made of, or sewed with sumac, willow, or other pliable twigs. A small loop of plaited horsehair is woven into the jar at either side. An awl is the only instrument used, and no particular care is taken to weave very closely, as the jar is rendered watertight by a covering of pinon gum over the complete inner and outer surface. On the opposite side of the canvas are ears of corn, a sacred plant in the Navajo perspective. It provides not only food, but it also plays an important role in prayer. Corn is used to make many dishes in the Navajo culture, and it is used as sacrifices and offerings in prayers or ceremonies. The pollens and husks of corn are used for blessing and offerings for prayer. It is so important that the Navajos believe that if you lie down in a corn field, you will become sick. Corn is believed to be their second mother. Corn is their eternal mother from birth to death. The most widely known use for corn is in the coming of age ceremony for girls, where a fire pit is lined with cornhusks and the fire is cooking a large corn cake. Both Skye and Breezy are wearing traditional Navajo clothing. The three-tiered skirts made of velveteen represent the three stages of a woman, infancy, womanhood and the elder years. The sashes are hand woven and worn under the silver Concho belts. Both girls are adorned with the squash blossom necklace, given to them in early childhood.
- Original Painting SOLD
- Limited Edition Giclée Prints - 16 x 20
-
I started painting Skye when she was just and infant so I am thrilled that I can now introduce her younger sister Breezy to all my friends and collectors. Wild and Thunder are the brothers whom I also capture on canvas. The siblings are Diné (Navajo) with Mother’s clan being ‘Cliff Dwellers’ and Father’s clan being ‘Mud Clan’. Maternal Grandfather’s clan ‘Nooda’ which is Ute tribe and paternal Grandfather’s clan is ‘Chi’shii’ which is Chiriquaha Apache. In the painting, there is a pitch pot on the left side of Skye. This is almost a lost art; these bottles are made of, or sewed with sumac, willow, or other pliable twigs. A small loop of plaited horsehair is woven into the jar at either side. An awl is the only instrument used, and no particular care is taken to weave very closely, as the jar is rendered watertight by a covering of pinon gum over the complete inner and outer surface. On the opposite side of the canvas are ears of corn, a sacred plant in the Navajo perspective. It provides not only food, but it also plays an important role in prayer. Corn is used to make many dishes in the Navajo culture, and it is used as sacrifices and offerings in prayers or ceremonies. The pollens and husks of corn are used for blessing and offerings for prayer. It is so important that the Navajos believe that if you lie down in a corn field, you will become sick. Corn is believed to be their second mother. Corn is their eternal mother from birth to death. The most widely known use for corn is in the coming of age ceremony for girls, where a fire pit is lined with cornhusks and the fire is cooking a large corn cake. Both Skye and Breezy are wearing traditional Navajo clothing. The three-tiered skirts made of velveteen represent the three stages of a woman, infancy, womanhood and the elder years. The sashes are hand woven and worn under the silver Concho belts. Both girls are adorned with the squash blossom necklace, given to them in early childhood.
- Original Painting SOLD
- Limited Edition Giclée Prints - 30 x 40 | 24 x 32 | 18 x 24
-
This is one of my favorite gicleé prints. The turtle is the oldest symbol for Mother Earth in Native American culture. Therefore, this story “Little Turtle Race” is a message or a reminder to all of us to slow down. Take care and honor Mother Earth, and to show our gratefulness. Turtles do not race, only us humans! Turtle travels his own path in his own time. Turtle also represent security, solid grounding, and support. Slow, steady, strong, wise with age, protective, and unshakeable, Turtle appears the very model of settled universal order. No wonder Thunder and Breezy’s Mother calls her family her “Little Turtle Clan”. Thinking back on the fable about the turtle and the hare - Faster, stronger and bigger does not always equal better, and is not always the best method to obtain a goal. If you are dedicated, focused and work hard to fulfil your aim, it is unimportant whether you are slow or not for eventually, you will succeed. Turtle travels close to the earth, intimately connected with the currents of Mother Nature’s energy. Moving slowly means it has all the time to appreciate all her creations. We can follow this example, when we take the time that is always available, when we move more slowly along our own paths and enjoy the journey. We can learn to ground ourselves in the nurturing and protective energy of the earth and to flow with its energies at a pace that ensures what we focus on can be achieved. Thunder Cheii and Breezy Summer reside in Northern New Mexico with their family. They are also being taught their old traditional Native American ways that Mother Earth is governed by a set of principals, laws and values. I have a great respect for the families that I work with, trying to keep life in balance with with the modern ways.
- Original Painting SOLD
- Limited Edition Giclée Prints - 18 x 18
-
American Freedom by Sharon Brening. This oil painting is part of her Honoring America series. Limited Edition Giclée prints are available. The bald eagle, with its snowy feathered (not bald) head and white tail, is the proud national bird symbol of the United States. These majestic birds have a wingspan of 6 to 8 feet. The eagles can live up to 28 years and mate for life. More than 95 percent of bird species are monogamous, making them among the most loyal members of the animal kingdom. The Native Americans consider the bald eagle and the golden eagle to be sacred. As eagles are the highest-flying birds, they were seen to be nearer to the Creator. The meaning of the Eagle symbol was to signify courage, wisdom and strength and its purpose was as the messenger to the Creator.
- Original Painting Available - Gallery Wrap 20 x 60 x 1.5
- Limited Edition Giclée Prints - 20 x 60 | 15 x 45
-
Live Free or Die by Sharon Brening. I am creating a series depicting my love of USA and iconic symbols of American Freedom. Limited Edition Giclée are available. The bald eagle is the proud national bird symbol of the United States. These eagles’ mate for life, with incredibly unique rituals. The most famous and recognizable of these rituals is the "cartwheel courtship flight," in which two bald eagles will fly up high, lock talons and then get into a cartwheel spin as they fall toward the ground, breaking apart at the last minute. Nonbreeding bald eagles may engage in this behavior antagonistically, as a kind of ritualistic battle.
- Original Painting Available - Gallery Wrap 60 x 60
- Limited Edition Giclée Prints - 24 x 24
-
This blue-eyed cowboy is a fellow artist and friend. Craig is a fabulous bronze sculptor. His chaps and tack were crafted by another friend, Carson, a 4th generation saddle maker who resides in Wyoming. The western cowboy still lives on. His gear can be a rich tapestry of his or her own making. The style of his boots and chaps to his hat. Even the way he wears and knots his wild rag or kerchief. Big spurs, small spurs, lots of silver Conchos, its endless. Much of the style dress and many of the terms used in reference to cowboys, horses, their tack, and the things they do are regional. Many of the words are derived from the Spanish Conquistadors who brought the first horses to America. The gun and holster are still important objects to have while riding in our Arizona territory.
- Original Painting SOLD
- Limited Edition Giclée Prints - 24 x 24 | 18 x 18
-
Dyani was presented a perfect ear of corn in Shungopavi which is one of the first Hopi villages established on Second Mesa. Dyani is wearing a knee-length dress called a manta. A manta fastened at a woman's right shoulder, leaving her left shoulder bare. Missionaries did not think this dress style was modest enough, so in the 1900's many Hopi women started wearing blouses underneath their mantas. This style is still in use today. Unmarried Hopi women wear their hair in elaborate butterfly whorls, while married women wear theirs in two long pigtails. Hopi means “peaceful people”. Hopi is such a special place for Sharon Brening to visit. The Hopi are among the most ritualistic people in North America, with much of their ancient ritual still intact
- Original Painting SOLD
- Limited Edition Giclée Prints - 12 x 24
-
I was working and showing at the Arizona Fine Art Expo, a 12 week show in Scottsdale, Arizona. Scott Wallis and myself used our creativity to masterfully paint one of my native models. I started with my sketch and oil paints, passed the canvas over to Scott and he worked the background. We passed this canvas back and forth until it was finished. Scott is an impressionistic painter and I love the way we were able to marry our two distinctive styles. Breezy Summer is the model and one of the families I have visited every year since 2005. Breezy Summer is the model and one of the families I have visited every year for about 14 years.
- Original Painting SOLD
- Limited Edition Giclée Prints - 40 x 30
-
Thunder’s Mother titled this painting Eagle Child. She said, "Our Chei's (grandfathers) pray to the creator as the sun rises to greet a new day!" Thunder is always looking and pointing upwards to the sky and heavens. After finishing this painting, I noticed a magical eagle that appears in his face. Eagles have very spiritual meanings. The majestic Eagle totem is symbolic of being a supreme visionary. Possessing the power of exceptional vision, he is master of timing and accuracy. Each Eagle brings the essence of expanding your spirit flying high and free. When Eagle spirit animals appear in your life, you are being asked, if not challenge to go deeper into your spiritual quest. Eagle symbol meaning is challenging you to take your idea and bring it into reality; just as Eagle can spot it’s pray from very far distance and use its ability to remain completely on its mission. You must take action on your visions; this is your greatest destiny. Eagle spiritual meanings remind us to be victorious, proud and strong. Do all these things with great humility... that humility of nature that is beautiful and grand yet does not boast. This is the symbolic meaning of Eagle shown to us by Great Spirit.
- Original Painting SOLD
- Limited Edition Giclée Prints - 15 x 30 | 12 x 24
