"My next painting will come from a short walk outside my front door. Inspiration for me is everywhere. I look to the sky; I look across the water, deep and beyond the horizon. These are the places of inspiration. This piece of sky, this moment in time, is mine to paint."
"In Picking Sweetgrass, a Native-written and illustrated children’s picture book, a young boy recalls a cherished childhood memory of gathering sweetgrass with his grandmother, Ma. On a bright Saturday morning, he escapes household chores to join her in the field, where she patiently teaches him how to identify and pick the fragrant sweetgrass used in her black ash baskets. Through Ma’s careful instruction and loving presence, the boy gains practical knowledge and a deeper connection to her artistry and Ojibwe traditions. The sweetgrass's sensory richness, the day's rhythm, and the grandmother’s wisdom weave a lasting memory. Narrated with warmth and nostalgia, the story honors Indigenous knowledge, family heritage, and the enduring power of memory."
"The book also pays tribute to Josephine Robinson, the author’s grandmother and a renowned Ojibwe basket maker from the White Earth Reservation, whose life and artistry are detailed in the book’s biographical section." _Amazon Review
You can order your copy of "Picking Sweetgrass" by Kent Estey here:
blackbearsandblueberries@gmail.com
218-310-0416 or 218-310-8532
My Studio is now open by appointment. Give me a call at 218-902-0552 and then stop on by. Come have a cup of coffee and let's talk art!
"I grew up on the White Earth Reservation in Minnesota. Times were tough, but our lives were full of music and art. I knew I wanted to be an artist, but buying paint, brushes and canvas were not within reason. So, I remember mixing a combination of dirt and sand with water to make my paint. I had to leave the color to the imagination."
"I use many different mediums, such as oils, acrylics, pastels, inks, wax, stone and other metals to get me where i'm going. I believe that working in a single medium is restrictive to my artistic process. Each idea manifests in its own individual style."
"My wife and I live in the woods and near many beautiful lakes. We live in one of the most peaceful and beautiful places in northwestern Minnesota. Nature inspires me, so a walk in the woods will always provide me all I need for my next piece of artwork."
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