Visual Analysis: Aaron Paquette's Seven Grandfather Teachings Artwork

This essay provides a detailed visual analysis of Aaron Paquette's artwork, 'Seven Grandfather Teachings.' The analysis begins with a brief introduction to the artist and his background, highlighting his connection to his Indigenous heritage and his artistic goals. The essay then delves into a visual examination of the artwork, describing the composition, including the seven horses, the field, the moon phases, and the use of color and lines. The essay further explores the symbolism of the horses, the framing, lighting, and the artist's use of lines and contrasts. The essay connects the artwork to the Seven Grandfather Teachings of honesty, truth, courage, humility, respect, love, and wisdom. The essay concludes by emphasizing the artwork's ability to connect viewers to the values and struggles of Indigenous communities, serving as a voice for their experiences and a symbol of freedom and strength.

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Seven Grandfather Teachings by Aaron Paquette
Aaron Paquette in a self-reflection, states that he is an Indigenous from Edmonton,
Alberta. He had to connect to the community to feel connected to himself. He started painting as
a way of giving back to the Indigenous population, representing their anger, hate, and dangers
(CBC “Aaron Paquette”). The artist wants his viewers to feel through his art, feel the life around
and the basic truth of lives. He wants to convey how the complexity and rules have disconnected
us from our societies. Though his artwork “Seven Grandfather Teachings” he tries to convey
how simple it is if we have the qualities of honesty, truth, courage, humility, respect, love and
wisdom (Aaron Paquette). Aaron Paquette is a deep-thinking artist who likes to portray earthy
women with golden light around their heads. His idea is not to express his respect for their sacred
nature. His trademark is the bold, black outlines around his subjects and all the fine details he
puts in his artwork (Windspeaker Confidential] -- Aaron Paquette 17).
Visual Analysis - Seven Grandfather Teachings
“Seven Grandfather Teachings “is an interesting and colorful artwork by Aaron Paquette.
There are seven horses in different colors that stand in a vast field. The filed is bordered by a
thick red panel which is filed by the different phases of the moon. The horses’ silhouettes stand
out against the deep blue sky and the bright moon right in the middle contrasts with the dark sky
and is flanked by stars. One can seek the two birds clearly, that fly in the over the field. The main
idea of the artist is to connect the viewer to the seven horses that stand for seven grandfather
teachings of honesty, truth, courage, humility, respect, love and wisdom. The horses carry an

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indigenous look with the feathers and paint on their faces. Those stripped bird feathers and the
face paint distinguishes them from the outsiders and reflects them as members of the indigenous
tribes.
Framing has been used to include the image and represent the visual elements in the
artwork. The artwork is indeed more aesthetically pleasing and draws more focus and attention
from the viewer because of the simpler framing style.
The use of angles and geometry in the artwork create a two dimension, for example, the
straight lines, rectangular shape of the field and the length of the border. The horses are placed
behind the fields to create a perspective and yet, the horses seem very close to the viewers.
Lighting is a powerful tool used by the artist of directing attention to a particular aspect.
In the artwork, one finds the light entering the canvas form the front and highlighting all the
horses. Although the moon is behind the horses, it is a weaker source of light as there are
shadows depicted by the artist as if the light is falling from the front side.
There is a colorful contrast in the painting. When you look at those bright colors, each of
them stands in harmony with each other as well as has a strong identity. The bright, intense
colors of red and blue at either end of the artwork encloses the seven horses. Each of those
horses is given a different hue by the artist to make them stand out. The white horse is placed in
the middle and is flanked by three horses on either side in different colors of fawn, brown, light
brown and deeper grey and lighter grey.
The use of lines in the artwork gives a strong vertical sense as the blades of the grass in
the field stand stiff and hard. The horses behind continue the vertical motion by standing tall and
placing their head high. The vertical direction of the artwork is balanced by the horizontal span

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of the red border below and the horizontal arrangement of the moon and stars. One can see the
signature line work of the artist in the use of thick and bold outlines.
The artist has thoughtfully arranged the visual elements in the composition. Because of
the arrangement and the use of lines and contrasts, the viewer is immediately drawn to the
horses. There is a strong emphasis on the horses amidst the symmetrical arrangement.
“Seven Grandfather Teachings” by Aaron Paquette draws the attention of the viewers
because of the commotions and the title. He paints the horses in the fields in bright colors and
with each horse standing for the seven values in life. He reminds the indigenous people of their
struggle as well as their power. The symbols of horses in the field stand for freedom and
strength. It is those values that will silence all that hurt and make one part of the community. He
is well aware of the racism faced by the indigenous people and all the hate and anger it brings.
He feels that it is the indigenous women who are at the bottom of the social ladder, who need a
stronger voice and need to be heard (CBC). His artwork is a way of giving back to his
community and becoming a voice for them.

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Works Cited
Aaron Paquette. “Sacred Teachings.” aaronpaquette, 25 Oct. 2014,
http://www.aaronpaquette.net/?p=7137. Accessed 17 Oct. 2018
CBC. “Aaron Paquette: From despair to city councilor candidate.” CBC, 4 Oct. 2014,
https://www.cbc.ca/news/thenational/aaron-paquette-from-despair-to-city-councillor-
candidate-1.4172565. Accessed 17 Oct. 2018
“[ Windspeaker Confidential] -- Aaron Paquette.” Windspeaker, vol. 26, no. 4, July 2008, p. 17.