“Thunderbird Symbolic Ghost Dance” 11 x 30” WC & Gouache on Paper The Thunderbird is a powerful symbol in Native American culture. It appears repeatedly in ceremonial objects. Its image is also commonly found carved into stone, known as petroglyphs. The legendary Thunderbird ruled the skies, and was credited with thunder and lightning. Its powerful presence was feared and revered. …
“To and From Crazy Horse” 11 x 30” Watercolor and Gouache on Paper Crazy Horse, a powerful Sioux chief, unified the Sioux and Cheyenne tribes to resist the United States Government. The era in which he lived and fought were called the Indian Wars. Along with steady encroachments on Native American land, the Indians were killed with bullets as well …
“Battle with the Crow” 8 x 10” Oil on Panel The Sioux and Crow Indian tribes of the Northern Plains were long-time enemies. Tales of battles fought and coups counted were the tried and true test of manhood, told generation to generation. Depicted in this painting is the telling of such a tale, such as may have been shared inside …
“Courtship Blanket” 9 x 12” Oil on Panel A Native American tradition which inspired this painting is the courtship blanket. Often the courtship blanket was made for a young man by a family member, such as his sister. For an intentioned suitor to invite a young woman into the shelter and privacy of his blanket, signaled serious courtship intent. Her …
“Wild Horses” 8 x 8” Oil on Wood Panel A horse’s profile is superimposed over the romantic ideal of horses in the wild, running free. This painting is on a wood panel, and I like the natural graining of the wood showing through the imagery.
“Crow Battle” 12 x 36” Oil on Canvas The Crow Indians were long-time enemies of the Sioux, and many stories are told about fierce battles between the two. The name the Crow Indians call themselves is Apsaalooke, meaning “Children of the Large-Beaked Bird”. It is actually a mistranslation of their name which caused them to become well-known as Crow. As …
“Memories of the Hunt” 24 x 36 ” Oil on Canvas From ancient cave paintings, pectoglyphs (pecked into rock) and petroglyphs, (Etched lines into rock) the bison emerge as the life force for the Plains Indians of North America. The bison provided virtually everything needed for survival in this harsh environment. Tribes followed the herds, hunting as a group when …
“Reno’s Retreat” 36 x 48” Oil on Canvas Amos Bad Heart Bull recorded a dramatic image of Reno’s retreat in a ledger book in which he rendered stories of the Oglala Lakota. His image of Reno’s retreat, and the still to this day debated details of the famous battle, inspired this painting. Upon his death, Amos’ ledger book was given …
“Primal Hunt” 24 x 36” Oil on Panel The dependence early man had on the bison is evident in rock carvings still found across the Great Plains of North America. A successful hunt was primal to the tribe’s survival, as the bison provided virtually everything needed. A dramatic hunting of the bison is depicted in my painting, showing imagery of …
“Sitting Bull’s Vision” 36 x 48” Oil on Canvas The Lakota Chief, Sitting Bull had an inspirational vision, in which he saw soldiers falling into camp like grasshoppers falling from the sky. This vision pre-dated the Battle of the Greasy Grass. (Also known to history as Custer’s Last Stand… or The Battle of the Little Big Horn…) This vision gave …