Mr Bison is the first and original bison in my series. Bison are a symbol of Kansas and of the prairie, as well as many other regions of the US. I was drawn to them after moving back to KS from Chicago, and feeling those Midwestern feels about putting down roots once again in this place. Early on after I began painting full-time, I joined a group of photographers at the Maxwell Wildlife Refuge to get special up-close access to the herd of bison there. Termed the "Freeze Your Buns Off" tour, they weren't kidding about the name. But the close proximity deepened my obsession with this beautiful creature and I began painting them feverishly! This particular piece was the first large-scale canvas I ever did, and was early on in my full-time artist career. It holds a special place in my heart as a result. 

Tap below to see me working on the original + where it ended up.