Native American Tribes created their own personal Medicine Shields for many reasons. Mainly these were pictorial dipictions of the self - incorporating personal strengths, animal totems, magical symbols etc. These Shield's can show the world your true Spirit - who you really are and what really matters to you.
You can create one of these beautiful shields for yourself, or for a friend or family member, or even a group of people.
Shields are hand painted using acrylic paints on plain canvas cut in circular shapes, the canvas is then laced onto willow hoops. The shields are then decorated and participants are encouraged to bring along their own decorative materials so that these shields can incorporate special personal items (feathers, beads, ribbons, charms, stones, shells etc). Shields can be of any size or shape - from small 10" hoops to hoops many feet in diameter perhaps for a company logo/house name plaque/display purposes etc.
Adult Workshops:
If you or a group of friends would like to Host a Shield Creation Workshop in your area, please contact me. Workshops can be adapted to any type of group and are also suitable for schools (eg. art projects) and colleges (eg Transition Year etc), for Group Work/Projects, for Businesses as Team Building Exercises.
Children's School's Workshops:
We are available for Children's Workshops in Schools. These workshops enable the children to create their own 'mini' shield, and we can work creative ideas around projects or topics that are being studied in the school, or base the shields on each child's perception of themselves, including incorporating their personal tastes and favourite themes. Some suitable topics could be: environmental, animal study, historic, local flavours, hopes or aspirations for the future, friendship shields, school emblems and other such ideas. The workshops promote fine motor coordination, hand to eye precision, learning simple weaving skills with willow, painting and working out how to lace the pictures onto the hoops. The children are encouraged to really think about what matters most to them and can be extremely helpful in allowing each of them to consider themselves more closely. They are also, of course, great fun!
The Course would take up a normal mornings work, and can be a popular extension to any art days or projects planned within the school or as part of a School Tour in the Summer season. We also bring along a small Native American Tipi which the children can help us pitch and can experience throughout the workshop. We also help the children to make a Dream Catcher - if time permits.
Cost of Workshop depends on group size and we encourage teachers/parents to join in to provide a more community/family feel - travel cost could incur dependent on your location.
Below are some pictures of Children's Workshops that we have undertaken
I also undertake Commission on Shields, i can create for you whatever design you would like on your shield myself, or i can use pictures/designs/symbols that you can send to me to incorporate.
Prices for Shield Commission starts at 100 euro, dependent on size of shield and artwork involved.
Please contact me on 0876597885 or email me faolan07@yahoo.ie Thank You
