“PHEASANT IN MOTION” by Coila Evans

This painting captures the movement of a pheasant, a subject I don’t often have the chance to work from personally, as I typically paint still subjects using my own reference photos. Though upland bird hunting is common in our part of Montana, I’m not a hunter myself. This piece was created from a photograph taken by a friend near Winnett, Montana. My occasional interest in pheasants was inspired by previous collaborations with the Billings chapter of Pheasants Forever. I’ve always been drawn to the pheasant’s rich but soft colors, which make it a striking subject in motion. The lift of the pheasant is complemented by the textures of the surrounding grass, which help to convey the natural energy of the prairie landscape.