Before the Storm

A Lakota rider sits high and composed, the paint horse angled forward as if mid-step, with the open grassland lifting into a broad, weathered sky. I wanted the figure to feel steadfast—calm, present, and unhurried—so the painting reads first as silhouette and attitude before the viewer notices the details of clothing, tack, and wind. The warm reds and earth tones of the rider and horse stand cleanly against the cooler violet sky, creating a timeless, dignified statement that holds from across the room.