According to the Canadian Bison Association these giants of the grasslands survived the ice age but almost died out in the 1800's thanks to European settlers (from 60 million down to 1,000). Thanks to conservation their numbers have risen. They are rugged beauties who can endure our harsh climate and although gentle on the outside can suddenly charge if provoked.
I began by blocking in major areas with acrylic with a suggestion of where the detail is going to go. Personally, I think they're awesome but I'm not too sure anyone would want to be confronted with this face looking directly at you.
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| Bison blocked in with acrylic (18x24" canvas) |
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| Bison stage 2 beginning to apply oil paint |
This is getting really close to finished. The colour looks different because of the lighting, this one is actually closer to how it looks.
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| Bison stage 3 very close to finished |
I realized what this painting was missing. To balance the power and strength of the bison I added wild mini daisies (fleabane). Bisons are gentle creatures (unless provoked). He is as likely to be curious about them and fascinated with them, as he would be considering whether or not to eat them. So it's done, signed and will get a coat of varnish in a couple of weeks.
With great power comes great responsibility and I believe that we who have this privilege need to consider the most vulnerable most of all. The plains aboriginal Nations have placed Bison at the top of the medicine wheel, perhaps for this reason, and the legend of the white buffalo (that was born in 1994) came to fulfill a prophecy of the climate change and earth devastation we see today - unless we learn to work in harmony together. Big or small, Bison medicine is strong medicine.
With great power comes great responsibility and I believe that we who have this privilege need to consider the most vulnerable most of all. The plains aboriginal Nations have placed Bison at the top of the medicine wheel, perhaps for this reason, and the legend of the white buffalo (that was born in 1994) came to fulfill a prophecy of the climate change and earth devastation we see today - unless we learn to work in harmony together. Big or small, Bison medicine is strong medicine.
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| Completed Painting! Bison oil on acrylic 18x24" canvas |
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