Noe Cockney

My parents are Bill and Lucy Cockney. They always told me whatever you want to do, do it and do the best you can. If it doesn't work, then try something else or keep practising.

I was born and raised in Inuvik, but when I was 11 years old, my parents moved to Tuk. When my son Noel was 11, I moved back to Inuvik for work. I retired in 2011 and moved back to Tuk to take care of my parents. I always loved the ocean and Tuk, which is my home. I worked at the RCMP office as the secretary for 5 years, then became a regular member of the RCMP in 1996. I worked 5 years in Tuk and 11 years in Inuvik; combined with my previous job, I had 21 years of service to retire with minimum pension. I also got disability pension, as being an RCMP member was a rough job and I got hurt many times.

I always loved art as I was growing up. I watched my mom doing her sewing and making her own designs on the different mukluks and delta braid for the parkas. I thought that was amazing. But, my older brother Billy was the one that may have inspired me to do my drawing. I always tried to watch him when he drew pictures or was carving the beluga whale teeth into animals that he has hunted over the years. He also told me: you need to see the animal in person and understand the way they live and how they provide for our people. Billy also told me: look at the picture you are drawing carefully, especially in the details that make it a great picture. Another person who was a big influence in me drawing was my teacher Mr. Murphy in high school. He always gave me great pictures to draw and showed me how to draw using shading. Probably the last person I can think of who helped me out, was my godmother Margaret Brown and her husband Bern Brown; they gave me books and always called whenever they had a chance.

My family, every once in a while, would get me a sketch pad, as they know I love to draw. But for some reason, I only draw with a regular pencil. I have tried in school to use colour, but I never really liked it. I just use shading to show the different colours of the drawing.

I named my piece Nolerbear, after my son, Noel. When I saw the photograph of this bear, I loved this picture right from the first time. I knew I wanted to draw it and it took me quite a while to get all the detail and shading right. I could have kept going but thought not to. I also love polar bears—they are one of my favourite animals. I would never ever want to see one in real life, other than from a far, safe distance away. My younger brother, who is a hunter, told me about a bear he was tracking, and he told me the bear was walking exactly like the way the picture was showing. I just love the picture of this polar bear.

I was honoured to hear I was in the Top 4. I was just happy to send in my drawing.

Art is very relaxing to me. I love to draw and the more I draw, the more I can see the detail in a picture.

I can give you the advice my parents gave me: you can do what ever you like in life, but always practice, as this will always improve on what you want to achieve in life.