Daron Letts
Northern News Services

Snowdrift (June 27/05) - John Rombough was overwhelmed. The Chipewyan Dene artist from Lutsel K'e says he experienced a spiritual awakening this winter while hiking in the mountains of the Okanagan.

Chipewyan Dene artist John Rombough delivered some new paintings to the Nor-Art Gallery in Yellowknife last week. Two of his paintings include Bear and Wolf Clans Meet as One and Guardian of the Animal Hearts. - Daron Letts/NNSL photo

He describes seeing the sprawling form of a giant eagle unfold from the contrast of green forest and white rock on the horizon. Images of wolves and bears emerged in the craggy mountain tops.

"Everything is living," Rombough says. "I want to respect the land and my culture by showing people the beauty of their surroundings through my paintings."

Rombough enriches his spiritual vision with depictions of the animal clans and sky messengers.

He paints in the contemporary Ojibwe woodland style, with Dene influences. He mentored under the legendary founder of the style, Thunder Bay artist Norval Morisseau.

Rombough's works feature splashes of bright colour encased in prominent black supporting lines.

He accents his subjects with streams of light dots. He says these circles represent the seeds of all animals and the veins of life: water, air, the natural environment and the life stages.

17 pieces featured

Yellowknife's Nor-Art Gallery features 17 of Rombough's paintings in its store and website.

Rombough is back in Lutsel K'e for the summer after studying for two years in Penticton, B.C. He just graduated with his certificate from the National Aboriginal Professional Art Training Program.

Rombough will return to Penticton this fall to study creative writing and prepare for a large showing of his work next year. After that he plans to continue his studies at the American Institute of Fine Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

"I could live without money," Rombough says. "But my art is my life. The colours in my paintings are vibrant because I'm happy with my life and my artistic style."