Woodland school of art

Identified by black outlined figures, x-ray perspectives, vivid colors that are compartmentalized similar to stained glass, and usually a solid color (e.g. white) background. Norval Morrisseau (see AskART) is considered the innovator of the style, known as Woodland School or Legend or Medicine painting. He based his work on traditional Ojibwa visual imagery taken from petroglyphs, pictographs and sacred Midewiwin (religion) birch bark scrolls, as well as from the myths and legends of his people. It is predominantly practiced by members of the First Nations (Indians) of Canada and the U.S.A. who live in the region around the Great Lakes. The first exhibition of Woodland Art was at the Pollock Gallery, Toronto in 1962. Source: Michael David Silverbrooke, Collector and Art Historian, British Columbia, Canada.