Up Coming Exhibits & Shows

The Conversation: Group Show - Aurora Cultural Center - July 31 to Oct 23, 2021

We Are Still Here -Solo Exhibition - Orillia Museum of Art & History - August 21st 2021 to January 15th 2022

Our Elders tell us that our feet have walked upon the back of Turtle Island for time immemorial. Our resiliency has been proven time and time again, we have faced genocide both physical and cultural, betrayal at the hands of our allies, residential schools, and the murder of our women and girls. Despite this... We Are Still Here! – Ahsén:nase

We Are Still Here is a collection of characterizations and stories of the Onkwehon:we (the Original People) of Turtle Island.

Taken from the OMAH blog: Not Your Mother's Woodland Style Art

Exhibits & Events for 2019 

Promoting We Are Still Here! on

SpeakEasy 102.7 CHOP-FM
Click here or the above link to proceed to SoundCloud

Aurora Cultural Centre - May 9 to August 3

"We Are Still Here!" - Solo Exhibit - May 9 to August 3, 2019 - Aurora Cultural Centre - Aurora, Ontario - 35 new paintings - Reception May 25th 1pm-4pm

We Are Still Here! challenges stereotypes surrounding Indigenous peoples - The Auroran, May 2nd 2019

We Are Still Here! sparks dialogue on contemporary Indigenous Issues - The Auroran, June 6th 2019

- Ways of Seeing - Artist Talk June 5th, 6pm-7:30pm
- Painting Demo - Alla Prima - July 10th 2019, 6pm-7:30pm

EXTENDED TO AUGUST 14th

Woodland Cultural Centre - May 25th to July 27th

"It's A Good Day To Be" - Featured Artist - Indigenous Art Show - May 25 to August 14th 2019 - Woodland Cultural Centre - Brantford, Ontario - 15 new paintings - Reception May 25th 7pm-9pm

- Workshop July 20th 2019, 10am-4pm - Portraiture in Oil.

Oil Painting Workshop with a live model at Woodland Cultural Centre, Branford Ontario. July 20th 2019

Little Black Frame - Group Show (Invitational)

Dundas Vallay School of Art - November 9th 2019

The Artists’ Connection 5: Indigenous Perspectives

Traveling throughout the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board and Hamilton Wentworth Catholic District School Board, this art education exhibition offers schools a unique opportunity to bring Indigenous artists and their art into the classrooms in order to share their work and artistic practice with students. Beginning in September 2016, the exhibition will visit 9 schools per year for 3 years, with a possible extension.

This unique program of exhibition and artist appearances is designed to create a relationship between the Indigenous visual arts community and the public schools, interacting with children at a most meaningful time in their lives.

Models Wanted

I'm always looking for interesting people to paint, and depending on my ideas at the time, this need will change. If you are local to Toronto, send me a photo with the typical information. Sessions typically run 1-1.5 hours for inital sketches and photographs. Previous artist modeling an asset, but not necessary. If you have interesting clothing or costumes, ie renaissance fair, peasant smocks, etc. ... let me know.

Wa'tkonnonhwerá:ton - Welcome

Ahsén:nase "Dee" Douglas is a Kanien'kehá:ka Painter, Educator and Urban NDN with roots in Kahnawà:ke Mohawk Territory. He works primarily in oil on canvas and considers himself a figurative painter whose work while expressing current Indigenous themes do not follow the rigid characteristics of what is stereotypically found within Turtle Island.

Indigenous Books

Due to the closure of my publisher I am now publishing my children's story book, Coyoto Boy and Ahaw, Anishinaabem (OK, Speak Ojibwe) by B. Jeff Monague: click here to be taken to the book page.

Thought for the Day

Every class or workshop I teach, every painting that I sell, buys me a little more time to paint just one more painting. Niawen'ko:wa - Ahsén:nase D. Douglas

News

A York Region District School Board Story

Released June 2020

Regarding It's a Good Day to Be...

Of special note, I also want to acknowledge this years solo exhibition artist Deron Ahsen:nase Douglas. His portrait paintings are lively, nuanced and full of character (kind of like the artist himself)... The exhibition is in many ways a response to the prevalence of "trauma art" found throughout the Indigenous contemporary art world. This kind of work of course is vital and important to present very real issues and concerns, equally needed is an alternative view that broadens the scope of what it means to be Indigenous. In a way Douglas is subverting expectations with his presentation of paintings that illustrate our more humerous nature through the personalities depicted in his portraits of his Indigenous friends and family.

Naomi Johnson - Artistic Director - Woodland Cultural Centre, 2019

What the audience is saying about It's a Good Day to Be...

Also in the News...

I am pleased to announce that the Woodland Cultural Centre has acquired "Wendigo Triptyck" for their permanent collection. It will be shown at the Aurora Cultural Centre from May 9th to August 3rd, after which it will be delivered for placement within the museum’s Residential School exhibit.

The Collections Registrar had this to say about the painting:
"...it inspires a good representation of what a child might have felt going to a residential school. I am absolutely delighted to be able to put it in the museum..."

The Executive Director had these kind words to say about the piece:
"[Wendigo Triptych] will be displayed as part of the permanent exhibition area showcasing artifacts from the Mohawk Institute found during the recent renovations to the building. "Wendigo" is a timely work which perfectly embodies the terror, isolation, loneliness, and cultural depravations experienced by the Indigenous children brought to the Mohawk Institute Residential School."

I am deeply honored & grateful.
Niawen'ko:wa

Meanwhile, back at the Aurora Cultural Centre...

Portrait completed from Aurora Cultural Centre demonstration. It was great fun and a challenge trying to paint and talk at the same time while an audience watched. Did complete it after a short time however.

Now taking commissions for those that need something speacial.

Now Available - Art Prints!

The Good News...I'm finally listening to my friends and patrons and will be producing "gallery-quality giclée art prints on 100% cotton rag archival paper that are printed with archival inks and a minimum one-inch border". The first to be available is "Rabbit Ears". More to follow, or if you have a favourite and need it NOW... let me know.

Click the picture or here to get more information

What's on the Easel 

Now and then I'll post a picture of "What's on the Easel". This is something I like to do with my students to show them what I have to do to reach a finished painting.

During this time of self-isolation I've taken it upon myself to spend this time working on a number of projects and topics I would typically not have time to consider given the deadlines I am usually under. One such topic is pure figurative studies of the human form in a more or less classical sense. This is a good way to sharpen your eye and your skills as you try to "turn the form".

"Juliet" Oil on Canvas - 18x36 inches: Available

The following are small paintings (8x8 inches) created using the Zorn pallet. White, Cad Red, Yellow Orchre, Ivory Black. It's amazing what colors you can mix with just this very limited pallet.

The following is something I did near the end of August.

Ahsén:nase D. Douglas with "Mnidoons" (Little Spirit in Ojibiwa)
Available Inquires welcome

Message from Our Ancestors
Oil on Canvas
Check out Extras and Watch this painting being created.

School Programs

Each year I also work with different schools and school boards within southern Ontario to bring Indigenous based learning through art and story telling.

Some of those projects can be viewed here: School Projects

Shé:kon, skennen'kó:wa Akwé:kon.