I am John K Sterner, a Sicangu Lakota/Dakota & German human being. I am an artist; drawing painting & sculpting art. I have been an athlete and coach; football, track and wrestling. I am a teacher of many things; church, physical education, human relations, and art. I am a father and a husband.

As an artist I make art into manners the first manner is a form of realism I try to pursue the natural world whether it’s a person or landscape and emulate that to the best of my abilities. I use Plein Air techniques and direct observation as my method, observing the world and making marks with many different types of mediums to represent whether it’s a landscape or person.

The other Method of making Art is pursuing the idea of what it is to be a modern displaced American Indian. The concept of what my heritage is and whot I am in relation to that culture. I explore different mediums and ideas searching for the connection between me and my heritage in today’s world, mixing traditional and contemporary Lakota beliefs. I use a traditional method of ledger art. A process introduced over a hundred years ago but instead of accounting ledgers I use my weekly church bulletins. I listen and observe the service and bulletin and allow the mornings words and ideas to speak through the drawings I make. I then take the images home and over the next days to weeks I color the images using and exploring many different mediums to finish.

I also construct, weld , model, and carve many different mediums from wood to bronze to create small and large three dimensional sculptures. I usually make small cardboard maquettes and then transfer ideas to more permanent materials. I have made large relief mosaics as well as carved wood.

I really enjoy filling my sketchbooks and spending a lot of my time just making lots of bad art until something emerges that is good art.

I love the act of creation, "Creativity takes courage." - Henry Matisse “Be brave. In art. In life.” Jed Dorsey

John Knife Sterner