cognitive dissonance Painting

I am from the Navajo Indian Reservation in Arizona. I have been drawing since age twelve but my work has been shaped by the path that's been laid at my foot. Although, I graduated from Rough Rock High School, I attended Idyllwild School of Music and the Arts a couple of years. I accredit most of my introduction to the world of art to that brief but essential experience. At Northern Arizona University I received my B.F.A in studio arts. I was introduced to concept art and most importantly, learned how to draw by observation. I've been fascinated with surrealism early on with artists like DeChirico, Tanguy, Miro, Ernst, Dali and Magritte. Most of my early student work have been inspired by these artists. Lately, I've been integrating my cultural identity into the mix along with landscapes. Landscapes help with the observation skills, while including my cultural identity, helps bring it all together to shape my own visual language. It has been thirty years to this realization and from here on I can say I have a solid path to tread.