Native American Art of the Northwest Coast

Formline is the term used to describe the elements that make up two-dimensional Northwest Coast art. Flowing thick and
thin lines look like calligraphy, but are different forms combined with bold
color, plus negative and positive space, to create the image. 

Ovoids (oval-like shapes), U-shapes, crescents, circles, and trigons (curved T or Y shapes) are the elements used to make a Northwest Coast image, regardless of subject.

Let's look at this print, Eagle and Wolf, to see how these forms fit together.

Ovoids form the building block of designs that create the main elements of a formline image. They are usually thickest at the top and thinner on the sides. Ovoids can be the eyes, wings, fins, or shoulders, and are used to connect other forms. Ovoids may be solid, and may contain smaller ovoids within a larger one.

Can you see how ovoids, combined with formline elements and negative (unpainted/white) space, are used here to form the eagle’s head?

U-forms direct movement and help form parts of a design. They are thickest on top and taper to a fine point where they join other design elements. Split U-forms use T-shape trigons to add detail. They typically connect to other areas of the design and are used for fins, feathers, or other details.

Here, stacked and split U-form in red and unpainted negative space shape the eagle’s wings.

Crescents, trigons (deeply curved T and Y shapes), and circles are often lacking in color and form negative space. They add detail and edges in a design.

Can you see the unpainted crescents in the wolf’s eye?

Two trigons provide detail to the wolf’s brow.

An unpainted circle creates the end of the wolf’s snout.

How are colors used?

Black is the most important (primary) color and defines the subject. Primary lines are almost always connected.

Can you find three Northwest Coast clan animals here?
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Hint: an eagle, otter, and raven.

Red adds details to the primary black design. The secondary red designs always connect with primary designs. Red and black can be interchanged as primary or secondary colors.

The raven is often shown with a sun in its beak. The raven is a very powerful creature which created the world. Stories tell how the raven stole the sun for the world, bringing light and life, and was chased by the eagle.

Though not always used, blue or green is the third (tertiary) color and highlights space around the red/black design. Negative space, in which no color is used, may be used to add detail. The blue detail here helps the three animals stand out in the overall design.

Can you see the otter with its long tail?

In one traditional story, a man was sharpening his spear. The “Transformer” (a raven!) came along and turned the man into an otter, with the spear becoming the otter’s tail.

The eagle has a sharply curved beak, and a U-shape crest on its head. Blue gives detail to the eye, talon, and wing.

In Northwest Coast visual composition, a subject may not always be given a body. Here the eagle’s head, wing, and talons provide clues to the theme of the artwork.

Northwest Coast art memorializes important events and people.

This print, Thunderbirds and the Haida Masters, honors master artists in a traditional bentwood box design. The thunderbird spirits of the past look over the Haida Masters. The Masters hold in their hands the honor of continuing the art and culture of their people.

The thunderbird is the most powerful spirit. Only very powerful leaders have the thunderbird in their crests.

Can you see the Haida Masters in this print? They are wearing traditional woven hats. The rings on the hat's crown show wealth and rank.

Humans are shown in Northwest Coast art with common features: eyes without ovoids surrounding them, human noses, eyebrows, hands, and arms.

Quinault artist James DeLaCruz says of this print, Tribute to the Legends, “orcas, wolves, a bear, and other crests can be seen within the body of the thunderbird. The legend involves orcas who, running from whale hunters, beaches itself, then transforms into a wolf to get away. Reaching safety, he once again becomes a thunderbird.”

Blue is used to highlight the three animals and thunderbird.

Can you find these animals?
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The thunderbird is always shown with outstretched wings, curved beak, and curled crest on its head.

The orcas extend from the shoulders, down the wings of the thunderbird. You can see their fins in black U-shape and negative trigon formline at the top of the thunderbird's shoulders.

Wolves sit below the orcas. They are black and red, with long snouts and sharp teeth!