Metis Artisan Profile

Biography~ Earlene Bitterman

Artistic Mediums:  Pen and Ink, Pencil (colour and charcoal)  Acrylic, Glass engraving,  photography & webpage design.

Earlene Bitterman was born in Pouce Coupe British Columbia to Joyce Whitford and Earl Debolt. Due to her family being in construction she has lived in most parts of the province, as well as the Northwest Territories, and the Yukon. Finding her husband, she has lived in Saskatchewan for a short period of time getting a feel for prairie life.

Developing her artistic talent early has lead her to selling works across canada, and publications in major newspapers as a political cartoonist.  In 1990 she developed a sense for webpage design and has served a variety of clients in web promotion.

“I find that I can weave my artistic design into computer graphics, creating a one of a kind design” ~ Earlene

“My favorite artistic endevour lies in cartooning, and humor. It feels good to make people laugh” ~ Earlene

Glacier Graphic Cartoon excerpts

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Acrylic painting on Artist Conks from the Haida Gwaii

Artist conks 1990-92 Acrylic Paint

In 1990 we lived in a wall tent on the Haida Gwaii for 6 months harvesting seafood and living off the bounty of the island. We found the largest Artists conks growing on the cedar trees  I have ever seen, and brought home around 10 to paint on. I sold most of them in the Yukon on our next trip North.

It seemed only fitting to paint a ship sailing away in the ocean upon it.

(Picture right) Backside of Artist conk

The artists conks were very heavy when we brought them home and took 3 months just to dry them out from the wet weather of the coast.

Metis Cartoons & Colouring books

In 2006 I began work on a Metis colouring book series designed for Metis children.  I also developed a character named Napisis (Little boy) in Michif.

Napisis is currently being developed to teach Metis values, and traditional culture, for the K-5 age group. He has various cartoon side kicks, Steven Seagull, and Murray the Moose.

Stay tuned for a educational series in the future for K-5 with a Metis cultural and educational theme.

Samples of the Metis colouring book can be found in the Illustration section of this website. If you require a Children’s book illustrator for your project don’t hesitate to email ebitterman@email.com

Children’s Wall Mural 1985

Close up of Unicorn. Children’s Wall Mural completed in 1985 in acrylic paint medium.

Butterflies, and flowers with a castle background creates a surrealistic theme ideal for a female youth.

Click for large photo

Tropic Fish Wall Mural-Canvas

Tropical Fish Wall Mural for children’s room (1994)

(3ftx6 ft) This mural painting was completed in one night, after a night of insomnia. My sister liked it so much she purchased it and toted it with her to Vancouver.

It is not fully completed as I was going to pain stakingly put veins in all the leaves.

Acrylic Paintings

 

Rufus Hummingbird and Hybiscus Flower 1999

Majority of the mediums I work with are acrylic based. In 2009 I found I had allergies to oil based paints.  Acrylics also lend themselves to wet on wet blending on the canvas, with easy clean up due to being water based.

Currently more works are underway in the 2011-2012 season, with a Metis historical theme.

 

Outdoor Yard Garden Painting

Glacier Graphics Wall Murals in Children’s rooms, and yard garden. These murals were completed between 1989-1992.

The Bird of Paradise mural (12 ftx 14ft) painted with marine paints to withstand the harsh outdoor elements, still stands today after 12 years. Children’s wall murals are comprised of water based easy to wash, non-allergic acrylic paints.

A primary sketch is done before the painting is commenced.

 

 

 

Close up of Tropical Bird Mural