My name’s John Peterson, of Aleut-Norwegian heritage. I was raised in South Naknek located on the Alaska Peninsula around Bristol Bay. I’ve drawn ever sine I was about 6 years old, encouraged by my mother. At the time I’ve experimented with pastels,oils,charcoal,colored pencil and water colors. After doing my Military Service, I returned to Alaska and chose Ivory carving/scrimshaw along with whale baleen as my medium. Many people mistake the subjects that I put on baleen as “scrimshaw.,” but the correct wording is “stippling.” All of my Birds, animals and people are based in the area on part of the state they inhabit. Bristol Bay Native Cooperation has a lot of my carvings/artwork on permanent display. The artwork that you have chosen will bring many hours of enjoyment and pleasure of Alaska.
