“Manifest Destiny” 16 x 20” Oil on Canvas

This painting will be available at the Black Hills Stock Show in Rapid City, January 27 – Feb. 4th.  Look for my booth in the Civic Center Theatre lobby!

The notion of Manifest Destiny was largely a governmentally convenient philosophy to justify westward expansion in the United States.  It was the belief that expansion was not only obvious but it was inevitable. This philosophy led to much bloodshed and the changes upon the continent and the world, continues today.  This great land battle is now over highway routes.

The ledger art image which inspired this piece was taken from the Ewers Ledger.  Of Northern Cheyenne origin, dating to the late 1970’s or early 1880’s, the name of the ledger is attributed to a purchaser of the ledger.  The profusion of rifles and bullets whizzing about as well as the obvious conflict, drew me to the image. 

An amazing website in which the entire ledger can be viewed is:  https://plainsledgerart.org/plates/index/5