The Story
This buffalo was created as a commissioned work, but as I painted, the animal became much more than a subject to be rendered. I was interested in capturing the presence of the buffalo—the sense of strength, endurance, resilience, and quiet power that it carries. Rather than attempting to create a literal representation, I wanted to explore what it feels like to stand in the presence of such an animal.
The buffalo holds a particularly meaningful place within the landscape and history of the American West. There is something both ancient and immediate about its presence. It evokes survival, perseverance, and an ability to endure the changing circumstances of the world around it. Those qualities are deeply connected to my own interest in the human condition, and they are what drew me toward portraying the animal in such an expressive and fragmented way.
Perhaps that is ultimately what I am trying to do with my paintings: to move beyond the surface of a subject and find the emotional language underneath it.
