Panniqtuuq (May 10/04) - Watching Ame Papatsie draw is a work of art. He uses both hands to draw. With a pen in each hand he starts in the middle of paper and in only a matter of minutes he's finished.

Ame Papatsie, an artist in Panniqtuuq, gets inspiration from the world around him. Even during an interview he can concentrate on drawing a portrait of someone taking a picture of him. - Neils Christensen/NNSL photo

"Everything is about balance," he said. "You have two ears to hear one sound, two eyes to see one image and for me two hands to draw one picture."

Papatsie learned his drawing skills at a young age. When he was five years old he broke his right hand and had to learn to do everything with his left. By the time his hand properly healed, he was ambidextrous.

For Papatsie, Inuit traditions and his culture are constant inspirations for his work. The images he draws, he says, are uniquely Inuit.

"My theory is by sharing the art you can learn about my heritage and culture," he said. "As long as Inuit art is hanging around our culture will never really die."

Papatsie is also inspired by talking with elders.

"Elders have knowledge that we can only comprehend 20 years later," he said. "I'm just starting to understand some things I was told when I was a child."

Inspiration is almost everywhere, said Papatsie.

If something catches his eye when he walks around town, he pulls out a piece of paper and a pair of pens, and starts to draw.

"I like to draw. I try to draw things that are positive, that reflect your spirit," he said.