"Prairie Thunder" - Buffalo (Bison)
Original Oil - 24" x 48" - Sold
Can you imagine what it would have been like in the early 1800's when the plains were home to over 70 million buffalo? That's correct, 70 million. This would have been an amazing sight of these huge animals, and would have sounded like 'Thunder' as they moved across the prairie.
Since they were almost eliminated to extinction, these animals have made an amazing comeback and are now seen from nation parks, to private ranches.
This fall scene is a setting from central Kansas. Up close, a male Bison is one of the most powerful and muscular animals in North America and can weigh in excess of 2,000 lbs. The females are equally beautiful animals and are very protective mothers. This calf is trying to identify what is close by raising his head and smelling the air.
The reference animals for this painting were from the 'Indian Creek Bison Ranch', near Haven, Kansas, which is owned by Jerry & Linda Schmidt. A special thanks to them for sharing their amazing animals, expertise and time on a number of research visits to their ranch.
