About the Artist
Theodore Trusty, Jr. is a member of the Northern Cheyenne tribe and is of Northern Cheyenne, Lakota Sioux, and Creek/Seminole descent. His father, a mix of Northern Cheyenne and Lakota Sioux, was from the Montana Medicine Flyings family and a direct descendant of Woodenlegs. Woodenlegs was a great Northern Cheyenne warrior who fought in the Battle of Little Bighorn. Unfortunately, Theodore’s father was murdered in 1975, in Denver, CO. Theodore’s mother is a Creek/Seminole Indian from Oklahoma. Her grandparents did not speak English and utilized their land as farmers and operating part of their land in the peanut industry. Theodore has precious memories of his great grandmother, who spoke about the days when they traveled in buggies.
Theodore was born in Denver, CO and lived there during his early childhood. At the age of 12, he was sent to live with his aunt in Oklahoma. He attended the Eufaula Indian Boarding School in Eufaula, OK and participated in basketball and other sports. Their basketball team toured Oklahoma to compete against other Indian boarding school teams. The school frequented the local powwows, which became a favorite outing for Theodore. Drawing dancers ultimately became a favorite for Theodore because he greatly admires the courage required to dance in front of the Nations and multitudes of observers.
It was while Theodore lived in Oklahoma that he developed an interest in drawing. His first artwork was done in pencil and included drawing animals. He spent a lot of time drawing and developing his own technique.
After moving back to Denver, Theodore taught himself to use other media’s, that included oils, pastels, charcoals, ink, and acrylics. He took his imagination further and taught himself to woodburn onto leather, mainly deerskin and elk hide. Woodburning onto leather is a highly unique technique that requires a mastered skill to achieve detail by only using a woodburner instrument. Theodore also uses oil paints to depict pictures onto the leather.
Other work of Theodore’s includes designing and creating moccasins, purses, vests, and buckskin war shirts. A goal is to become more involved in this avenue of art.
Theodore has had pieces in galleries in New York and Colorado. His work has also been displayed at numerous art shows throughout the United States. He’s currently a full-time artist and designer and spends most of his time at his studio in the Cherry Creek district of Denver.
Theodore was born in Denver, CO and lived there during his early childhood. At the age of 12, he was sent to live with his aunt in Oklahoma. He attended the Eufaula Indian Boarding School in Eufaula, OK and participated in basketball and other sports. Their basketball team toured Oklahoma to compete against other Indian boarding school teams. The school frequented the local powwows, which became a favorite outing for Theodore. Drawing dancers ultimately became a favorite for Theodore because he greatly admires the courage required to dance in front of the Nations and multitudes of observers.
It was while Theodore lived in Oklahoma that he developed an interest in drawing. His first artwork was done in pencil and included drawing animals. He spent a lot of time drawing and developing his own technique.
After moving back to Denver, Theodore taught himself to use other media’s, that included oils, pastels, charcoals, ink, and acrylics. He took his imagination further and taught himself to woodburn onto leather, mainly deerskin and elk hide. Woodburning onto leather is a highly unique technique that requires a mastered skill to achieve detail by only using a woodburner instrument. Theodore also uses oil paints to depict pictures onto the leather.
Other work of Theodore’s includes designing and creating moccasins, purses, vests, and buckskin war shirts. A goal is to become more involved in this avenue of art.
Theodore has had pieces in galleries in New York and Colorado. His work has also been displayed at numerous art shows throughout the United States. He’s currently a full-time artist and designer and spends most of his time at his studio in the Cherry Creek district of Denver.