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My painting, Organic Bison, was just accepted into the 18th annual National Art Exhibition and Sale put on by the Artist's Association of Northern Colorado.

March is supposed to be the month that comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. But here on the front range of the Colorado Rockies, the weather has been decidedly lamb-like. Warm and sunny. It is hard to complain when the weather is so mild, but what we really need is a good healthy snow storm! March is historically our snowiest month, and we've got a lot of catching up to do - we've gotten less than half our average snowfall for the season so far.

But...the spring-like weather has got me thinking about baby animals, so I was inspired to start a painting of a mare and foal. I haven't painted anything equine in a few months and just felt like returning to a favorite subject. I like the way the mare's ear is cocked back, and you can just catch a glimpse of her eye. Even though she seems unaware of the viewer, she is indeed quite aware, and ready to take action should anything threaten the foal at her side.

It is interesting to me how subtle horse body language can be, and how often we can miss their signals. Horses are constantly communicating with each other - even when it looks to the casual observer that they are just standing there.

At any rate, in this painting I hope to convey the emotional bond that mares have with their babies, while also creating a somewhat ethereal sun-drenched landscape around them. I feel like I'm off to a good start...

She comes to me in dreams. Sometimes

I can see her clearly. Sometimes she is

shrouded in mist so thick she is a phantom

Unseen. Yet I feel her breath on my skin,

Or I feel her eyes, watching from a safe distance

As if unsure of what I might do next.

Sometimes I’m not sure how I feel about her

Fear mixed with awe and respect and a

Longing for communication

And the knowledge of the ancients

Passed down through parallel lines of blood and gristle.

She is the teacher. The alpha and the omega.

There is much to learn from both ends of the spectrum.

She smiles then, the wolf, and feels the same.

Native Americans believe that the Bear has strong medicine magic and many tribes consider bears to be Shamans themselves. They are known to American Indian tribes and their Shamans as “Keeper of Medicine” because they keep all the ancient healing secrets of the Indians and the spirits of the Earth. To me bears represent strength and protection (think "Mama Bear!") but they always seem a bit goofy to me, as characterized by Baloo in the Jungle Book. Teddy Roosevelt once said that he thought the American Grizzly should be our national symbol instead of the Bald Eagle because the Grizzly Bear was "noble and maybe a little reckless. Sometimes feared, not always liked, but always respected."