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.

  • The white bison is an American iconic image. White buffalo or white bison is an American bison possessing white fur and is considered sacred or spiritually significant in several Native American religions; therefore, such buffalo are often visited for prayer and other religious rituals. I had the great experience of visiting the Lucky 8 Ranch in Oak Creek, Colorado. They currently have a herd of 350 bison. Oglala Sioux spiritual leader Floyd Looks for Buffalo Hand, a grandson of Red Cloud, is quoted as saying “The arrival of the white buffalo is like the second coming of Christ. … It will bring about purity of mind, body, and spirit and unify all nations—black, red, yellow, and white.” ​A white buffalo calf is extremely rare and happens only 1 in 10 million births from the mating of two brown bison.
    • Original Painting - SOLD
    • Limited Edition Giclée Prints - 24 x 24

  • Rainmaker

    $1,300.00$7,900.00
    The Rainmaker was created after spending a day at Angel Peak located in San Juan Badlands Canyon, New Mexico. It was quite a spiritual and reflective time as everything unfolded in perfect synchronicity.  On our way to this destination for our photo shoot, we stopped and gathered Navajo tea, which Wylde is holding in his left hand. In his right hand he is raising his medicine to the creator and giving thanks. The medicine pouch contains sacred items. A personal medicine bag may contain objects that symbolize personal well-being and tribal identity. Traditionally, medicine bags are worn under the clothing. This is Wylde in his 11th year.
    • Original Painting Available - Oil, Framed 60 x 30
    • Limited Edition Giclée Prints - 30 x 60 | 24 x 48
  • Gathering Traditions

    $495.00$6,500.00
    The southwest is full of wide-open beautiful space. This is the area around Shiprock, New Mexico, a hub for trading with local people. Many of the children I paint were born here at the Shiprock hospital. The people live so remotely and in such a vast area Shiprock seemed to be a central location. Skye Blue has been modeling me since she was an infant. In this painting she is with her sister Breezy Summer. Their outfits are made from elk hide, all hand fashioned by the grandmother and family. There is a blue-ribbon award on Skye’s dress. Breezy’s dress is now part of my Native dresses.
    • Original Painting Available - Oil on linen | 30 x 40
    • Limited Edition Giclée Prints - 30 x 40 | 16 x 29
  • This is a painting from my Native American series. I started painting Native American children full time starting in 2001. This painting portrays Skye Blue and her little sister Luna Cloud. The love Skye has for her new sibling is so heartwarming. Luna is so intrigued with the turquoise pendant that is so traditional with the Navajo tribe.
    • Original Painting Available - Oil, on linen 18 x 24
       
  • Days Done

    $495.00$2,500.00
    John is one of our local Cave Creek cowboys. With a good horse and saddle he rides through brush and thicket gathering his cattle. I was fortunate one day while out riding to run across John and his wife Andy gathering cattle for an old-time branding.
    • Original Painting Available - Oil, on linen canvas 16 x 20
    • Limited Edition Giclée Prints - 16 x 20
  • Wonderment

    $895.00$1,350.00
    A child's world is fresh and new and beautiful, full of wonder and excitement. Life’s discovery consists of not seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes, eyes like a child. I am so pleased to introduce all four of these Native American children in one painting. I have been painting these children since 2005. Skye Blue, Thunder, Wylde and Breezy Summer. They 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. These amazing outfits are all hand sewn and stitched by their Grandparents and Great Grandmother too! It took the family 18 months to craft these beautiful, elk hide outfit. The dresses and shirts are embellished with abalone shells for the girls, hammered silver for the boys. All with horsehair tassels that are the center of attention on the outfits. They are beaded with glass beads and cedar berries. The Navajo call these dried cedar berry beads Ghost Beads. The cedar berries are collected after ants have found the berries on the ground, nibbled off one end eaten the inside of the berry. The berries can be lightly smoked to further preserve them. The artisan then makes holes in the other end and the dried berries. The beads are strung in accordance with the harmony of nature. Cedar beads represent an interconnection of the earth, trees, animals and humans and they bring peace, harmony and safety to the wearer. They are a southwest tradition to protect one from evil spirits, ghosts and nightmares. The children are fascinated with this little creature that Skye is holding. The hedgehog got its name because of its peculiar foraging habits. They root through hedges and other undergrowth in search of their favorite food – small creatures such as insects, worms, centipedes, snails, mice, frogs, and snakes. As it moves through the hedges it emits pig-like grunts — thus, the name hedgehog. It symbolizes energy, defensiveness, defense, protection, fertility, intuition, psychic abilities, visions, vitality, protection, intelligence, resourcefulness, uniqueness, perception, calmness, curiosity, inner wisdom, resistance, endurance, etc. Hedgehogs are positive animals that symbolize happiness, motherhood, and calmness. They are loved by people because of their relaxed and non-aggressive behavior. Overall, hedgehogs are simply calm and relaxed creatures that symbolize everything that is positive in the world.
    • Original Painting SOLD
    • Limited Edition Giclée Prints - 32 x 40 | 24 x 30
  • Another of my favorite gicleé prints titled “A Little Patience”.  Turtles are the oldest symbol for Mother Earth in Native American culture. I believe that a trusting attitude and a patient attitude go hand in hand. Patience is not just about waiting for something... it is about how you wait, or your attitude while waiting. 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”. 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 principles, laws and values. I have a great respect for the families that I work with, trying to keep life in balance with the modern ways.
    • Original Painting SOLD
    • Limited Edition Giclée Prints - 18 x 18
  • "Grown men may learn from very little children, for the hearts of little children are pure and therefore the Great Spirit may show to them many things which older people miss." - Native American proverb This painting is of Wild Shaunuwa at 2 years of age. He is clad in buckskin pants and moccasins that his Grandfather made him. Wild just caught his string of fish and ready to head home. Good thing for this adorable boy, he has the bow grandfather fashioned out of wood. Take a close look at the little bear cubs that are scampering around the waterfall. For the wood bows, the native people used oak, Osage, juniper, mesquite and other whitewoods and hardwood shrubs. A short, stout bow was used pretty much by all tribes. While it did not shoot as far as a long bow, that was not the idea. American hunters relied on stealth, tracking skills, and patience to get close to their quarry in order to shoot an accurate lethal shot. Breastplates had originally been worn as armor and for protection in both battle and hunting. In the hot climate of the Southwest, they were often worn over a bare chest. During winter months and in colder climates, they were often worn over a shirt. Many believed that, by wearing one made in a specific fashion, a spiritual advantage was obtained during hunting and battles. Breastplates are hand crafted from what is called hair pipe beads.
    • Original Painting SOLD
    • Limited Edition Giclée Prints - 20 x 16
  • Are You My Brother Too?

    $550.00$795.00
    The painting is of adorable little Breezy Summer. For any of you that are familiar with my artwork of Native American children, she is Skye, Wylde and Thunder’s little sister. Little Miss Breezy is a delightful whole 3 years of age in this painting. Breezy’s family resides in northern New Mexico. The buckskin dress she is wearing is handmade and beaded by Elana Pate. It is intricately beaded with turtles as the cradle board and doll also. Breezy’s Mother has been teaching all her children at an early age that all God’s creatures must be respected because “we are all related.” Breezy is captivated with Mr. Turtle. . . Are You My Brother Too?
    • Original Painting SOLD
    • Limited Edition Giclée Prints - 30 x 20 | 24 x 16
  • Thunder Cheií is featured alone, at age four, in the forest with his bear friend. Thunder is 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 Chiricahua Apache (Apache: `great mountain'). He resides with his family in northern New Mexico. The bear is a Native American symbol, being free in spirit as the great wind, and grander than its mass. To match that magnitude is the quality of unpredictability in the bear. The bear is a massive animal who forages seemingly peacefully in the woods on berries and bush. Then if provoked in certain ways, the Native Americans witnessed a ferocity expressed from the bear that (understandably) would produce terror. In one way we get a picture of tranquility with the bear, and on the other, it is a symbol for warrior and power. Even tribes inclined towards peace honored the spirit of a warrior, and witnessing the bear seemed to embody that somewhat blind, powerful surge of courage and strength that every warrior wants to tap into. Thunder was given a powerful name at birth. Therefore, it is in his nature to use his voice or make noise to always be heard when in need of something. His little warrior spirit is in connection with his bear cub totem.
    • Original Painting SOLD
    • Limited Edition Giclée Prints - 16 x 20
  • Eagle Child

    $495.00$695.00
    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
  • Gathering

    $1,400.00
    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

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