"And the Thunders Came"

12" x 16", Oil                                        Private Collector * Great Falls MT

Buffalo and Butterflies

16" x 28", Oil                                                       Private Collector * Sheridan WY

The majority of Buffalo & Butterflies is painted in the color blue representing " from heaven".  The many square and rectangles in the composition signifies the labels that some place on the infinite powers that are heavenly and sacred. The buffalo nation centers the circle of enlightenment which is decorated by four eagle feathers denoting the four mysteries. Two butterflies demonstrate the delicate presence of our Creator. Seven blue and red circle symbolize male/female as well as the number 7 being very significant; for ages has been regarded as the number of mysteries relating to the spiritual or mysterious God force, and has a curious significance in this sense whenever employed.

Eagle Speaks

Oil

Private Collector * Chicago, IL

Two Feather Splash

16” x 22”  Mixed; oils, acrylics

This piece is from the Buffalo Path series and is based on a traditional woman’s teaching and the importance of water to life. Before the world was created there existed water, a spiritual cleansing element without form, much like the beginning of human life within the womb, surrounded by tstooxu' waaRUxtii, (holy water). Both creations depended and were attached to their maternal host (mother) and creator.

Make inquiries with Rehfelds Gallery in Sioux Falls SD, (605)336-7073

Sweet Buffalo Medicine

36"x 48", Mixed Media; oils, cowry shells and embroidery thread

The "sweet" in Sweet Buffalo Medicine is a tribute to my wife. The "buffalo medicine" represents the love, compassion and strength of a people. The buffalo skull standing alone with a feather attached at horn which represents a time in our lives when we seek solitude.  At this time we separate ourselves from the chaos to hear the one truth spoken by the Creator. We search for enlightenment in our own thought, using what we have gained through experiences and listening to the small simple truths all around us (sometimes the Creator speaks very softly). Each of our own spiritual awakenings is very personal and we find a unique relationship with  the Creator. The skull is a color gradation from red to orange to white, representing the change from protection to enlightenment to purity. The twelve spots remind us that it is good to be in spiritual thought twelve months of the year. Putting the Creator first those days will maintain growth and spiritual soundness. The horns on the buffalo are a protection piece. The yellow in the skull represents enlightenment and it is attached to the four directions establishing balance. The blue horn is a calmness of the days. The Medicine Wheel is a circle representing the universe and the center of circle represents the divine presence of our Creator. The shells are a tribute to the Secret Society of my Canadian relatives.

Make inquiries with Black Pinto Horse Fine Arts

Buffalo Path, the Road To Growth

private collector - Fargo ND0

36 "x 48", Mixed; oils and beadwork

introduces a dominate curve like path that begins with a dark green path of growth to a little yellowish green of enlightenment. This path is what we all strive for in life. The 6 blue feathers represent the gifts from heaven. One feather has reached the path and transforms to a protected red color. 4 heavenly stripes of the directions support the background of the path to enlightenment.  The Buffalo in the path is both heavenly and is enlightened in the mind, it's protective red horns stand guard, and the dark eyes circled in white see purity from the mystery of life. The large red circle with horse hoof prints represent the circle of life and the path of Black Pinto Horse. A beaded medicine wheel displays the colors of all nations and the powers in a semi-cardinal direction of the Arikara people. The three horses represent the artist and his parents. His father is represented as a blue roan horse without a mane and 4 Warrior coups markings on the legs symbolize his status as a warrior. His mother is displayed as buckskin paint entering the bottom or foundation of the painting.  One blue stripe is the heavenly support of this piece. 

Four Moons Passing
Corporate Collector * West Acres Mall of Fargo, ND

36"x 48",  Oils

Four Moons Passing is a composition that surrounds its description around the rights of passage or stages of womanhood and the path with the creator. The four moons represent 4 stages of life, the new moon-conception, Crescent moon-childhood, Halfmoon-adulthood, Full moon-Grandmother. The Tree of life conveys to lineage of the past, present and the future of the foundations of our societies. The 4 leaves are the change of life. the Blue Buffalo is the spiritual and ceremonial representation the First Nation people, 28 markings on the skull are the cycle of spiritual cleansing. 6 directions are displayed by 6 squares. The curved white path is the path that leads to the the center of the creator and his radiance of love to the world. 2 very small spirit lights, 1 in the upper red protection color is the you and the other next to grandmother moon in the blue gentle color is your mother. 4 stripes are the artist's trademark to represent being one with creator.

Featured at The West Acres Mall, - Fargo ND

White Buffalo Spirit  
Corporate Collector * National Buffalo Museum, Jamestown, ND.  

30" X 40", Mixed Media

This piece announces the white buffalo calf prophecy.  The calico background is a color pattern that references the grandmothers wearing of calico dresses.  The lone blue buffalo depicts the calmness of a powerful animal. The color blue signifies subtleness.  The white is to bring forth the presence of the white buffalo calf.  The diagonal feather is a symbol of the struggles keeping us from being balanced.  During times in our life, the elements in our environment can create an imbalance.  The buffalo footprints represent the steps taken in the four directions.  The center step is our personal step within the directions searching and growing towards a balance.  During our walk, we ask Creator to guide us and we look to Him for strength.  The color gold was introduced in this piece to signify a precious metal and the strength of it.  The twelve bells are ornamental pieces representing the months of the year.  To hear the bells is to acknowledge the presence of our Creator.

Buffalo Jump

5" x 7", Intaglio print

Historically, The Buffalo was driven over cliffs (Buffalo Jump) by the Warriors of the tribes as a innovative means of providing food and clothing and thus, sustaining the survival of the people. This print is a dedication to those who are innovators and dreamers for the survival of the people. A sunrise and sunset on the top and the bottom of the image demonstrates the importance of appreciating what's in between the two. Six Feathers represent the directions. 19 circles in the skies, 19 is the signature of God and a key to Heaven. The Red colored Buffalo Skull represents the protective nature of the Buffalo people. The Blue horns signify that the protection is sent from heaven. the white buffalo jump is a path of purity to enlightenment.

Standing Buffalo
* Private collector - North Dakota

8” x 10", Gauche on Arches

Standing Buffalo is the solitude and loneliness that goes with standing alone with all of creation, just to breath and appreciate your gift of life and your personal connection with the creator. The tree of life is the distant lives of family, friends, relatives and the world. A small image of the Morning star, a divine heavenly presence of creator's gift of a new day,..a new life. The vast space, is the infinite possibilities with the ever presence of creator in your life. The sun rising is the smile of creator on all of creation.

Rites of Passage
* Private collector - North Carolina

The Rites of Passage is a ceremony that celebrates the entering of a child's life into adulthood. This piece signifies the displacement of this ceremony to some of the society's of today. The background transcends the heavenly blue to the enlightenment of yellow. In between is the spatial color of red and a undefined number of circles that represent the undefined souls that haven't experienced this ceremony. The white path of purity is separated by this space. The triangular shards are like fragments of broken glass of green growth. Heavenly blue feathers fall unclaimed to the shield of protection. The shield represents the presents of protection uncompleted. A painted buffalo skull is the enlightenment and growth that goes with the Rites of Passage ceremony.

Chief Mountain (O Gee Ma Wa Chee)
* Private collector - Montana

16"x 20",  Oils

"Chief Mountain you are the red thunder, pray for your children", Chief Mountain is one of many sacred place in the world for the First Nation people. An image of this place set aside in the midst of blues and yellows represents that it stands alone among the other mountains. This sacred mountain is fasting refuge for the people to spend intimate time with the creator. A heavenly blue circle represent both grandmother moon and grandfather sun. A red and blue path is the male and female represented on a spiritual path to creator. the small drops of blood symbolize the sacrifice and struggle on this path. The green buffalo is associated with the growth that comes from this sacrifice. Four trees of life represent the past, present, future and all Nations. Six hoof prints are the foot steps of the directions and the two foot steps facing each other are when you face yourself in prayer.

Millennium Buffalo 
* Private collector - Washington DC 

16"x 22", Acrylic

The Millennium Buffalo piece was the work that initiated the " Buffalo Path Series". Produced during a major historical advancement into the new Millennium, and major changes in the artist's life.  This composition is designed with First Nations icons and vibrant "Expressionism" colors to reflect the progression of a traditional people to a contemporary evolution in time. The lone walking Buffalo image, represented in blue, is the subtle existence of the resilient first nation tribes surrounded by the beginning of change represented by the color yellow. Four blue feathers represent subtle change and growth as well as provide a backdrop of spiritual stability for the ceremonial buffalo skull. 7 Buffalo moving in an outward direction are the seven gifts given by the Creator.