“BISON, PORTRAIT STUDY” by Coila Evans

This is one of three painting studies created in preparation for a larger piece depicting a small herd of bison in the landscape, with this particular bison as the focal point. There is usually a narrative that accompanies my work. In the past, I’ve focused on the word Endurance when painting the American Buffalo. But with this new piece, I find myself thinking beyond that. I often need to sit with a painting for a while before its story becomes clear. That process usually involves looking into history - or taking a closer look at the subject itself.