DG Smalling

An Oklahoma Choctaw Native artist, Smalling is best known for his one-line, continuous drawing technique in which his pen never leaves the paper until the image is complete. Although Smalling rarely enters competitive shows, he was among a select group of artists who represented Oklahoma at Disney's Epcot Center in 2007. He participated in Choctaw Days at the National Museum of the American Indian in 2012 where he presented on World War I Choctaw code talkers, including his great-grandfather, Calvin Wilson.

DG describes the his concept for the piece A Mother’s need for her Daughter and Son as:

The Blue represents ‘possibility’. There is a
bittersweet reality each Mother faces when
embracing the reconstruction of both her life
and the life of her family: the loss of time, which
minimises opportunities.

And, it is opportunities that provide real
possibilities.

She makes the arduous effort to change
knowing that somuch time & opportunity has
been lost; hence the very minimal blue upon
herself.

The next difficulty, from elder to youngest, time
& opportunity has been affected; hence varying
blues upon themselves.

It is her decision, and will, that redeems time for
her young. It is courageous, humbling, and
compelling.

Instagram: @dgsmalling