Angela Marston Art & Design

Finding Balance Panel

This panel was inspired by the ever challenge to finding balance in ones life.

Materials: Old Growth Yellow Cedar, Abalone, Acrylic Paint, Red Cedar Bark Rope.

White and Black Raven Healing Rattle

This rattle was inspired by the legends or histories of the white albino animals. The Elders say that when the world starts seeing the white raven or bear then it is the earth and ancestors telling us that something is out of balance.

Materials: Old Growth Yellow Cedar, Cedar Root, Marine String, River pebbles, Acrylic Paint.

Hummingbird and Honeysuckle Paddle

When I was little we used to pick the honeysuckles and inside the flowers there was a sweetness we could taste. Here on Vancouver Island a grew up watching humming birds feed on these beautiful little flowers. I tried to create many layers and depth with the deep carving on this one.

Materials: Old Growth Yellow Cedar, Cedar Root, Copper, Acrylic Paint.

Honey Bee and Clover Paddle

I’ve designed butterflies, dragonflies and all kinds of birds but I have been working on a Honey Bee design for a few years now. It finally came together on this paddle that I designed in 2022. I’ve seen local honey bees feeding on white and purple clover so thought this would be a great combination.

Materials: Old Growth Yellow Cedar, Cedar Root, Gold Leaf, Acrylic Paint.

Researching the Microscopic

Often when drawing a design I’ll break down what it is I am drawing into the most simple lines and images. As an artist we have to understand how plants, animals, people are made. Learning the shapes, muscles, seeds, sprouts are all important parts of creating an image.

Materials: Old Growth Yellow Cedar, Cedar Root, Copper, Marine String, Acrylic Paint.

Oregon Grape Flowers Print

This print was inspired by my respect for the multiple uses of the Oregon grape plant. We used to eat the sweet flowers in the spring, the roots can be used for a cleansing tea or dying wool yellow and the berries can be made into jelly. This plant is a natural source of antibiotics and often used as medicine.

Materials: Cotton Rag Printing Paper, Printing Paint

Contemporary Fishing Basket

I have spent time researching old baskets and came across the old fishing baskets that were used in the rivers here. Though this one isn’t a true replication as the internal section is missing the shape is here. While being taught to collect cedar slats I thought it would be fun to try an open weave contemporary basket and this is the result. This is now in the permanent collection at the Museum of Anthropology in Vancouver BC.

Materials: Red Cedar Bark, Copper, Cedar Slats

Trillium Digital Drawing

While growing up these flowers bloom every spring. We were always told not to pick them or they wouldn’t grow back the following year. One of my favorite times of the year as everything is waking from the winter these flowers tell us that spring is here and new life is beginning. I am new to digital drawing and this is only my second one. I find it’s important to continue to learn as we grow. The Elders tell us to always continue to learn as it keeps the mind healthy.

Butterfly Pendant

This tiny little pendant depicts the orange butterflies that we see in the summer. Only about 2 1/2″ across this pieces is wrapped with cedar bark rope and a hand made copper claps.

Materials: Old Growth Yellow Cedar, Red Cedar Bark Braided Rope, Acrylic Paint, Copper

Blue Heron Paddle and the Wolf Paddle

These two paddles were a commission for a collection on an Island that my families have lived on for thousands of years.

The Blue Heron Paddle: Living by the ocean I often get to see the great blue herons that live near by. They seems like they are from another time with their size, shapes and long beaks.

The Wolf Paddle: this paddle depicts a contemporary Coast Salish design of a Wolf.

Materials: Yellow cedar, Cedar root, Copper, Marine Twine, Acrylic Paint.

Kingfisher and Fish

This paddle is inspired by the Kingfisher that we see when we go swimming in the summer. With the feathers sticking out from the back of the head, and white ring around the neck and the unique sound it makes when flying by this little but fast bird has a lot to say and teach us.

Regression Block Print on Hand Made Embossed Paper

Abstract images that depict imagery of being united or together for 20 years this print was an anniversary present for a collector. I ended up adding cedar bark rope to one side using the same method I saw on old blankets that were collecting and taken back to England.

Flicker and Loon Bentwood Box

This bentwood box is inspired by the birds the Flicker and the Loon. Inspired by the idea that you never know who you’re going to meet and end up being friends with while being open to other peoples uniqueness. There is a micro original painting below that shows the first rendition of this design.

Blue Heron Painting

This painting was one of the first that combines my love for painting abstract while including Coast Salish design. I was spending a lot of time in my kayak and would often see the herons eating breakfast early in the morning. The sun often reflecting of the water and waves while they so gently and calmly found their morning food.

Welcoming Spring

This painting is about as abstract as I get with my art work. I called this spaz art because one day I was feeling overwhelmed and needed to release some energy. I had this canvas and a basket full of paints and this is what happened. I love the metalic gold paint and the bright pinks and oranges with the muted background. I focused on creating a flowing tension that one might see in an untamed bush of flowers.

20 Year Anniversary

This is a Yellow Cedar Rattle that is inspired by the love of a couple for 20 + years.

Micro Original Painting

This original painting is about 1″ x 1/2″. Inspired by the idea that you never know who you’re going to meet and end up being friends with while being open to other peoples uniqueness. The flicker is a forest bird and the loon is an ocean bird and it’s unlikely that they would ever cross paths.

The Four Elements Healing Rattles

This set of rattles is now in the permanent collection at the National Gallery of Canada. It was part of the 2017 Biennial show that spoke to the importance of contemporary Coast Salish Art and the influence contemporary artists have on the art form.

Out of the Frame Art Show

The Out of the Frame Art Show was curated by Andrea Welsh from the University of Victoria’s Legacy Art Gallery. In the photo to the left I am closely inspecting the first steps of the print making with printer Andy MacDougall.

Find the link here

Out of the Frame

This art show was a collaboration with Charles Elliott, Douglas LaFortune, Andy Everson, Maynard Johnny Jr., lessLIE, Chris Paul, and Dylan Thomas.

The Raven and the Moth

This root paddle is about 3ft long and depicts a raven and a moth. I had a dream about a moth that inspired this design. There was a moth in the kitchen so I tried to save it and was letting it go outside when a bird flew past and caught it and ate it. It happened so fast I couldn’t do anything but stand there in complete shock.

Find the link here.

Carving the fine detail of The Raven and Moth Root Paddle.

Root paddles were used for digging the roots of cedar, grasses, medicinal and edible plants. They are approximately 3ft and sometime they were burned on the tip of the blade to harden and protect the wood.

Find the link here

Medicine Woman and Oregon Grape Healing Rattle.

This rattle was a commission and is now in a private collection.

Materials: Yellow cedar, Cedar root, Red cedar bark, Owl feathers, pebbles from the Cowichan river.