Surround of Buffalo
Surround of Buffalo
Surround of Buffalo
Surround of Buffalo
Surround of Buffalo
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  • Load image into Gallery viewer, Surround of Buffalo
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Surround of Buffalo

Living close to Yellowstone, if a day comes along that the roads are clear it's easy to hop in my car and a couple hours later, be painting in the park.

It is such a fluid place, with so many wonderful animals. These warmer days in the midst of winter are some of my favorite times to be there. The animals seem to luxuriate. Hillsides have blown clear of snow. Not too many people. When a day comes along with no wind, you can almost feel the collective sigh of relief. Green pastures are coming soon.

Last year's flood took out a road here, and the new road goes up and around the hills. In the winter when these roads get plowed they help the animals move as well as us human visitors.

This was painted in the parking lot of the city park in Gardiner. I had decided that a few antelope on the horizon seemed to be staying on that high perch, so I was going to try my best to put their portraits down in oil paint. All of a sudden I looked around and I was entirely surrounded by a small herd of bison. They were moving for some better night time foraging and my parked car was just a non-confrontational obstacle. 

I actually had my paint brush in my hand when I first noticed they were right next to me.

This is an action painting of 30 or 40 bison grazing and walking, unperturbed, but on a mission. That's the Roosevelt Arch in the upper left.

At the center of this movement is me, thanking my lucky stars!