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Weighing up to a formidable ton, this powerful animal is surprisingly agile and capable of topping speeds of 40 m.p.h. Despite enduring everything nature could throw at it since prehistoric times, it was unable to outrun the speeding bullets of early settlers. It only took 100 short years to wipe out an estimated 60 million bison. With only 1,000 to spare, finally, laws were put into place to protect them. There are now roughly 500,000 raised on ranches as livestock across the U.S., with approximately 30,000 managed for conservation in public and private herds.

In this painting, I wanted to depict how this remarkable animal continued to boldly drive forward, despite their unclear future. A true representation of their resilient and tenacious spirit.

I do not remember a time I was not creating art. When I was a little girl, I was always the first in my family to awaken and it was in those early morning hours I would immerse myself in my art. As you can see from my work, I also love animals. Art and animals have always been my tightly intertwined passions. Despite my artistic nature, I found myself in the corporate world for many years. With mounting stress, I began to focus more on my art for relief and in 2000, I traded the corporate ladder for a painter's ladder and started a full time mural business painting both residential and commercial murals. About 15 years into my business I transitioned to the easel doing gallery work, portraits and other commissions. A self...