dog hat studio

"I am just an ordinary guy who grew up on the Pine Ridge Reservation in southwest South Dakota. I'm an enrolled member of the Oglala Lakota People.

For most of my life, I drew pictures because it was a way for me to get by when times were tough or good. I don't have a deep wisdom on ledger, or to change it; that's something better left alone. What I like to do is to hear what my friends say and try to put a pictograph of a story they told. Some may be humorous or just a common saying.

I use a stylized drawing technique because as an artist you have to have a look to your work that makes it original to ones style, yet hold the background of the people who gave this tradition. We, the people who make our living at art, many times have to ask ourselves, "Is this good for a sale or hold our integrity and make our statement?" Pride is the enemy for an artist trying just to pay their bills, but nobody wants to hear that; but that's the sad reality. So, with that fact, some art gets filtered in order to pursue a financial future.

Growing up there wasn't an art magazine stand near by to find out what was hot, so for a self-taught artist all my schooling was watching others around me who had that talent. As for my own curiosity, I would look through museum archives wherever I was allowed to. I don't consider myself to be an expert, I know there is so much more to learn.

One of my first influences was Amos Bad Heart Bull (1869-1913) Oglala, after seeing how his ledger pictures advanced in time throughout his life, I always assumed that ledger drawing should advance with the culture; stay with the times. Another influence was Ed Defender (1953-2000) Sioux, the first time I met Ed, I laughed instantly and got his work. His work made me feel comfortable with who native people are. His titles were real and didn't lack imagination. After that awakening, I thought to myself, "his work at least made me feel alive and happy." The list does go on, but it was these two artists who brought art to life for me.

                                                                  --- Dwayne Wilcox,
                                                                           September 2010