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All work is ©Joan M. Hellquist and may not be copied or reproduced in any manner
without the express written permission of the artist.
Website ©2010 PlacitasArtists.com All rights reserved
Wolf Drum
(Teacher)
18" Single Head Hoop
©Joan M. Hellquist
Red-tailed Hawk Drum
(Messenger)
15" Single Head Hoop
©Joan M. Hellquist
Raven Drum
(Magic)
13" Single Head Hoop
©Joan M. Hellquist
Mountain Lion Drum
(Leadership)
18" Single Head Hoop
©Joan M. Hellquist
Great Horned Owl Drum
(Ability to Recognize Deception)
15" Single Head Hoop
©Joan M. Hellquist
Great Blue Heron Drum
(Self-reflection)
18" Single Head Hoop
©Joan M. Hellquist
Buffalo Drum
(Prayer and Abundance)
24" Single Head Hoop
©Joan M. Hellquist
Brown Bear Drum
(Introspection)
21" Single Head Hoop
Joan M. Hellquist - Spirit Drum Designs
Wildlife Images Hand Painted on Drums
Joan M. Hellquist has been drawing and painting since childhood. Born and
raised in the Northeast, Joan has lived in seven states and felt that she
was finally home when she moved to New Mexico in 1988.
As recently as two years ago, Joan’s paintings have been either landscapes
or portraits in pastel. Her love of animals, wilderness, Native American
culture and spirituality along with the fact that she’s been a drummer
since age ten, led her to start painting on drums. She feels the drum is the
perfect canvas for her for they allow all of her interests to come together
in one artistic package.
All of the drums are hand made by Native Americans here in New Mexico.
Joan personally chooses the drums she paints on both for the beauty of
the rawhide head as well as the sound of the drum. The wildlife image is
the only part of the drum head that is painted. The background is the
rawhide itself. The drums are playable, even on the image.
“It is my desire to portray the true spirit of each animal along with what
they represent. I want my drum images to project their spirit both visually
as well as through the resonance of their sound.”
