Ian Roberts went landscape painting with his father from the age of 11. Later he attended the New School of Art and the Ontario College of Art, both in Toronto. He has painted ever since. But this story about Etienne Brulé percolated inside him since he was a teenager canoeing in the woods of northern Ontario and one day just started coming out. He is the author of two other books, Creative Authenticity, 16 Principles to Clarify Your Artistic Vision, also published by Atelier Saint-Luc Press and Mastering Composition (North Light Books), which has sold over 40,000 copies. As well he has produced numerous instructional videos on painting. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, the painter, Anne Ward.