At just 22 years old, John Cardinal already has a large portfolio, filled with bright colours, impressive designs, and images that he hopes to one day see people wearing on their clothes.
Cardinal, who is from Whitefish (Goodfish) Lake, is already building a name for himself in the Alberta art scene. His work can be seen at the Edmonton International Airport, where there is a kiosk of Canadian artwork for sale. The focus, of course, is to sell artwork made in Canada, made by artists with Canadian roots, to tourists and visitors who pass by.
He has also been featured at the Northern Alberta Jubilee auditorium, where his work was on display for a number of weeks. More locally, Cardinal has been working with Tribal Chiefs in St. Paul. He’s designed a logo for the organization, and is part of an initiative that helps First Nations artists market themselves and their talents.
Although some of Cardinal’s work shows a clear connection to his cultural roots, with the use of traditional colours, shapes and animals, a lot of his work is inspired by a much less traditional medium.
“My inspirations are cartoons,” says Cardinal, as he flips through his cell phone, eager to share his artwork. Given his young years, Cardinal admits that he still has a lot to learn about being an artist.
But, being self taught, and already achieving success, he appears keen and confident, with a quiet demeanor.
And just like the inspiration behind much of his art may not be very traditional, the tools he uses to create the art are perhaps more modern than other artists. Sharpie marker, paint markers, pens, and crayons as just some of the tools Cardinal uses to create his colourful pieces.
When asked about the process involved in creating a piece of art, Cardinal laughs a little, and jokes that often, he gets distracted while he creates, often taking breaks to watch a movie, watch TV, or listen to music, before resuming his work.
But, whatever the process, it appears to work for Cardinal, whose ultimate goal is to create a clothing line with his designs featured on them.
During a graduation celebration for other members of the Whitefish community on Dec. 9, Cardinal was asked to attend, and was honoured for his work with a gift from Tribal Chiefs. The organization hopes to continue to encourage Cardinal to create art, and explore other, new methods of sharing his talents.
