Haida artist Eric Parnell, Jr. is focusing a lot lately on drums. He purchases the drum heads from another Aboriginal creator and then fulfills his own vision of what the drum will do and say. This drum, made of elk hide, is perfect for an individual drummer to use or for the collector to place on the wall, just as is done for fine paintings of Eric’s work. This image is of an orca, and it completely surrounds the drum head and sides as a whole. Eric uses black acrylics as a dramatic background and then limns the orca in sea blue and black - -the colours of the orca. There are brilliant red highlights on the fluke, dorsal fin, the pectoral fin, and the head. There is a sense of constant motion throughout the painting. The sound of the drum is rich and resonant. It is strung firmly with sinew in a beautiful pattern on the back of the drum. It is easily and firmly held by the drummer, and will be loved and respected by all. IT is 16” in diameter, 3” deep, and 997 grams.