"My
desire is to engage viewers on three levels: first, by
revealing the beauty of animals through intricate
detail; second, by concealing a hidden image that draws
the viewer to examine the painting more closely and
through which I can tell a story; and third, by
promoting a deeper awareness of the environment on a
level that will hopefully have an impact."
-Judy Larson
Judy's
unique approach to her work is through the use of the rare and demanding
scratchboard technique. Working on smooth Clayboard, a board with a white china
clay surface, she paints her subject solidly with black India ink. Then, using
an X-Acto knife and blades that she changes every few minutes, she scratches out
magnificent detail.
Two themes
predominate, and often converge, in Judy's "art of concealed imagery": the
precarious balance of wildlife in today's environment and the fate of Native
Americans whom Larson especially admires for their intuitive understanding of
ecological balance.
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Golden
“I was thinking in
terms of ‘I'm golden’ when I named this piece,” begins Judy Larson.
“By 'Golden' I mean that the horse is thinking ‘All is right with me
and the world. The sun is shining, there's food to eat, freedom to
relish, friendship and companionship within the herd and a sense of
well-being and joy.’ The horse has become, in my mind's eye, a wild
horse, probably in the high meadows as the snow melts and as new
grass springs forth. He's golden . . . .”
Limited Edition Giclée on canvas
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"Dignified,
magnificent, and majestic, wild horses reflect the beauty of the
mountains and the sprawling lands upon which they live.
Wild horses are born
with the colors of nature upon their coats: reds and blues,
grays and blacks, white and browns. They are as tough as steep
rocky hillsides, but they also find joy in living and friendship
within their family bonds. To live so freely in bands, herds or
harems requires harmony, both with their environment, and
also with each other. They rely upon one another for
companionship and protection, but they need enough space to run
freely and to live with other horses as nature intended.
'Fearless'
portrays that true joy of a wild horse, shining forth in sheer
abandon".
- Judy Larson
Limited Edition Giclée on canvas
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“It
took extraordinary courage to ride at full gallop into a thundering
herd of buffalo armed with only a bow and arrow,” Judy Larson says
with admiration. “Essential to that audacity was the Plains Indian’s
trust in his mount. Often, it was not his war horse he used on the
hunt, but one trained to negotiate through the unpredictable tangle
of the stampede without panic and cut a wounded buffalo from the
herd. Any mistake could lead to sudden death.
“The Appaloosa was a horse often favoured for the hunt. The symbols
adorning a steed for the hunt were different from those chosen for
war. A Sacred Buffalo or Buffalo Tracks represented thanks to the
Great Spirit for success in past hunts. The Sun of Happiness was
used to call for blue skies. Hunting during a rain storm was
dangerous and considered unfair to the Great Spirit and to the
buffalo. The Circle of Vision was painted around the horse's eye for
sharp vision and to help locate distant buffalo on the horizon. On
the tipi behind, you’ll also see yellow and black stripes which
indicated to the Plains Indians buffalo trails.”
A
hunter’s wife would paint a symbol on the horse that represented her
secret prayer to the Great Spirit for her husband on the hunt. If
the man was not yet married, his mother would paint that symbol. If
the hunt was successful, that symbol would most likely be used
again. Judy’s hidden spirit, a buffalo head, symbolizes her hope for
this warrior’s safe and victorious hunt.
Limited Edition Giclée on canvas
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Some
years ago,” said artist Judy Larson,® “I hiked alone for several days
with my two dogs in the White Mountains of Arizona, home to the White
Mountain Apache Tribe. The scenery was nothing short of breathtaking and
I watched eagerly for wildlife. I knew that black bear, bobcats, deer,
elk, coyotes, foxes, skunks and other animals were native to this area,
but there were no signs of any of them. I was stunned that not once in
two days did I hear a single bird, see one animal track or catch sight
of even a small rodent. The wilderness was eerily silent.
"The
forest trees seemed to be saying to me, “We are the only ones left to
testify as to what once was, but no longer is.” So, I imagined that a
number of animals were present around me, hidden just out of sight: a
mountain lion, an eagle, a fox, and a wolf. And, in my mind’s eye, I saw
a young grizzly padding his way softly through the first light snow of
fall (the last grizzly was killed in Arizona in 1939)."
Limited Edition Giclée on paper
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In many
ways, lone wolves look for love in much the same way that humans do.
Finding a suitable mate, getting along well, courting and marrying and
ultimately raising a family together are inherent in both species.
For the
lone male wolf, however, he must leave the protection and companionship
of his original pack, sometimes roam long distances and search for a
female wolf who has set off on a similar mission. These quests take
place during the breeding season, when scent is important and both
wolves are compatible and ready to start an active courtship.
A pair
might also meet quite accidentally, but most often the howling of a lone
wolf, which can carry a mile or more, will signal to a potential partner
that love is in the air. If that call receives a response, the two
wolves locate each other by continuing to howl. Courtship ensues and
there is much grinning, kissing and “talking.” If one, or neither, wolf
is ready to breed at this point, they will spend days and sometimes
several weeks together first, romping, playing, hunting, resting and
feeding. They will wander in search of new territory, being careful not
to intrude on, or invade, another pack’s territory. Love has blossomed
and a new family is born.
Limited Edition Giclée on canvas
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"As I was
researching American Horse, I found, once again, how easy it is for me to
embrace the nobility, love of land and the rights of people, peace and
loyalty of the Native American spirit. I see the same qualities in those who
have chosen to serve today and feel that they, too, are our leaders for
tomorrow"
- Judy Larson
Limited Edition Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
In Judy Larson’s
Flight, a herd of wild horses races away from the droning aircraft circling
above. This method of rounding-up mustangs such as these is part of the
program to further cull the 33,000 horses still living in the wild in 10
Western states. Another 30,000 are already in captivity. The Bureau of Land
Management wants to cut this total number of horses by half!
Judy has hidden
within this herd another who has even more to fear from above, an Alaskan
wild wolf. Exploiting a loophole for “predator control” in the Federal
Airborne Hunting Act of 1972, Alaskan hunters have found a way around the
Congressionally-banned practice of hunting animals like the wolf from the
air. Many hunters consider the practice, at a minimum, unsportsmanlike,
since it violates the "fair chase" ethic of hunting. More significantly,
they consider it inhumane since airborne gunmen rarely get a clean (i.e.,
relatively painless) kill
Limited Edition Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
There once lived a man who was very fond
of his buckskin horse. One day the man’s horse was badly wounded. The man
daubed yellow paint on the horse’s wounds and made a smudge of sweet grass,
then sang sacred medicine songs and asked the horse to rise. Three times the
horse attempted to stand but he could not. Finally, on the fourth try the
horse found the strength to get up and his master slowly led him home. In
gratitude to his faithful and loving master the buckskin horse gave the man
a gift: a tipi decorated with the image of a horse. Not only was the tipi
beautiful to behold but it held special powers and the man became famous
ever after for his ability to heal the sick
Limited Edition Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
" Eagle's Gift" portrays the story of a warrior who
saves the life of a trapped eagle. In return for his compassion, the eagle gives
the warrior a gift, a magnificent black and white paint horse, patterned like an
eagle's feather. "
- Judy Larson
Limited Edition Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
“Out of the
millions of horses that have shared our country's history,
only a few have distinguished themselves enough for their
names to be remembered. Among these select few is Ebenezer,
Chief Joseph's renowned Appaloosa racehorse. Red roan in
color, with large blood-red spots on his white rump, he was
not the prettiest horse in the herd, but he could run like
the wind. So famous was he that newspapers in Walla Walla
and Lewiston, Washington recorded each time Chief Joseph
rode him into town. Everyone with a good, fast horse of his
own, whether frontiersman or Native American, dreamed of the
day when his horse would beat Chief Joseph's Ebenezer. But,
alas! Ebenezer won all his races well out in front of the
best horses in the region.
The black horse portrayed in Ebenezer and the War Horse
honours another of Chief Joseph's horses. Although his name
has not survived through time, he was special, as well, for
he was the horse that Chief Joseph chose to ride to
surrender.”
-Judy Larson
Limited Edition Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
"Survival of the close-knit pack is usually
the most important item on the wolf agenda, but for Alaskan wolves, just
staying alive has become a full time job. State-sanctioned aerial gunning
has taken the lives of more than 600 wolves, and hunting by snowmobiles has
increased. In Idaho and Wyoming, state officials are determined to
annihilate wolves that wander outside of national parks. Wolves are fighting
to stay alive."
~Judy
Larson
Limited Edition Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
Truly
a family unit, a wolf pack is almost always composed of an alpha male, his
alpha female mate and their offspring. During mating season, both the alpha
male and female will fight to prevent others from breeding with their
partner. Their monogamous relationship prevails until death, illness or
injury prevents them from mating, or until one is ostracized from the pack.
Limited Edition Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
This piece conveys
an inspiring message of hope and renewal. "Few people know,"
she explains, "that by 1902, the last wild herd of bison numbered
only 23 animals. Native Americans had been deprived of a deep spiritual
connection with the bison, on whom their culture depended. I am
gratified to know that concerted efforts are being made to reintroduce
bison on tribal lands." Judy’s art takes us back to Yellowstone
in 1902. We see life renewed in the bison calf and the land bringing
forth new growth after a fire. Published from the artist’s original
scratchboard painting.
Limited Edition Giclée on paper
handsigned by the artist
In 1919, the United States
Department of Interior ordered the Crow Indians to kill all
wild horses on their reservation land, sacred ground that
had been leased by the government to cattlemen. No Crow
could abide by this order, a demand akin to asking a man to
kill his own brother. In 1923, following a final ultimatum,
the United States government hired local cowboys, joined
later by Texas outfitters, to kill the horses on a bounty
basis–four dollars for the tip of a horse’s ear. During the
next seven years, the hired guns killed more than 40,000
horses, including the Crow’s personal mounts.
By 1930, the great and
powerful Crow tribe was bereft of its horses, its culture
severely damaged. To the Crow, whose livelihood depended on
their prized horses, this tragic event was more devastating
than a military defeat.
-Judy Larson
Limited Edition Giclée on paper
handsigned by the artist
Iyuptala: Ee-yoo-P’TAH-lah. "The Native American’s relationship with the
elements, the earth and its inhabitants were viewed as "one with." He moved
through nature as he did with his animals, not as an owner or as a subduer,
but as an equal, a companion, a brother. Total trust existed between the
Native American and his horse, with whom he was "one with." They moved
together as one. They understood each other. They listened to each other. So
powerful was this understanding, this respect, that the very rocks in One
With speak of this relationship. Nature, the animal, and the Native American
are as one unit.
Limited Edition Giclée on paper
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" The lingering scents of both a
mighty golden eagle feather and the honored warrior who wore it attract a
cougar's curiosity.
Worn by Native Americans as honorary insignia,
the prized eagle feathers decorated everything from horses and war bonnets, to
medicine bundles and shields. Eagle feathers invoked supernatural power over an
enemy, granted courage and swiftness to the wearer, and conveyed predatory
qualities."
- Judy Larson
Limited Edition Giclée on paper
handsigned by the artist
Five Indian ponies sense an
inexplicable presence. As they make their way through the rocks and trees
down the steep hillside, their uneasiness is conveyed to their riders.
Warily, the party pauses.
By happenstance, these five Native Americans
have chanced upon a place so filled with the spirit of the wolf that even
the rocks and trees attest to its power. After today, the five riders'
medicine will be stronger and more powerful, having been blessed by nine
natural benefactors.
Limited Edition Giclée on paper
handsigned by the artist
Casting an over-the-shoulder glance, a male
grizzly takes a second look at a favorite oak tree. Was that an acorn he had
missed? Or, for an instant, had he seen in the twigs and branches, a mate
with a cub or two, or perhaps three?
Limited Edition Giclée on paper
handsigned by the artist
When Judy came across the
Blackfeet Indian legend of "The Crow Tipi," she was enthralled with the
various elements of the story, and how they might come together in a
painting. In the legend, there was a brave warrior who stole horses and guns
for his tribe. The head chief of the tribe became jealous of the warrior’s
success and glory and used witchcraft to bring bad luck to the man. Three
times the brave man rode out to battle, and three times he returned on foot,
because his horses had run away.
As the warrior lay sleeping after returning
home from a raid, he dreamt that a man came to him and said, “You should not
have had to walk home alone these nights. I see you have given a share of
the meat from a buffalo you killed to my children, the crows. For your
kindness I will give you two things: the power to become a chief of your
tribe and my own specially painted tipi, The Crow Tipi. Go a little way from
here, and you will find horses." The warrior became chief of the Buffalo
Dung band, and the Crow Tipi remains in his tribe to this day.
Limited Edition Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
To The People, loyalty was not only a characteristic of
man, but also extended to the natural and animal world. In his final years,
Sitting Bull proudly rode Circus Horse, a gift from Wild West impresario
Wild Bill. Some scoffed at the horse, trained to act and dance in the
renowned traveling show but, with the talent of any great leader, Sitting
Bull recognized in Circus Horse the fire of a true noble spirit. Discover the face of loyalty in
Judy Larson’s
The Gift.
Limited Edition Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
It has been said that in the early mists of dawn
they were invisible; in a snowstorm,
undetectable; in battle, unseen. Then, like the spirits for which they were
named, they inexplicably appeared.
Ghost Wind
horses carried big medicine. Along with their stealth, they were
exceptionally intelligent. They were trained to be fierce combatants, but,
like warrior-poets, they were also renowned for their complacent and docile
nature. Their value to the tribe was known to be greater than that of any
human.
Limited Edition Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
“Like so many
aspects of nature, Intent has several different meanings,” says artist Judy
Larson. “This alpha female wolf is intent as she peers through the trees of
an autumn forest at the viewer. But, ah, now that she has been seen, what is
her intent?” Larson’s unique artistic signature is her meticulous
scratchboard technique and art of concealment. With her dedication to the
natural environment and aptitude for explicit detail, it’s not surprising
that Larson would choose an art process that demands exacting skill.
Passionately ecological, Judy Larson's highly detailed paintings are not
only insightful and beautiful, but offer an array of secrets hidden within
the images. The two wolf pups hidden in Intent represent the period in their
young lives when wolves embark on a crash course of socialization in which
they forge emotional bonds and establish their dominant status with their
littermates.
Limited Edition Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
'' The word freedom
is a powerful, emotionally charged word, evoking ideas of independence, free
will, opportunity, and inalienable rights. Freedom enables change, learning,
understanding, rescue, and salvation. The very nature of the word,
"freedom," however, implies that there are those who are not free. ''
Limited Edition Giclée on paper
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“If one is a wolf, the best way to survive is
to be elusive,” says Larson. “The art of survival can depend upon how
skillful one is at eluding capture, as well as how subtle one is in one’s
daily activities, making it difficult to be detected. Unfortunately, and
despite its wariness of people, the wolf will use natural habitats like
forested areas and other settings that are in close proximity to humans."
Limited Edition Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
For more than 50 years after an
inconceivable act in which U.S. Army Colonel George Wright ordered his
troops to slaughter 800 Native American horses, the bleached bones of the
doomed horses could still be seen along the bank of the Spokane River in
Washington. Today, a monument marks the site that became known as Horse
Slaughter Camp.
Judy's "The Defiant" portrays three of these
Native American horses, rebelling at the senseless slaughter of their herd.
These three are "The Defiant," as they show themselves and their Native
American caretakers, that somehow, against all odds, they will survive as
living testament to two horrific days in history.
Limited Edition Giclée on paper
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The magnificent stallion featured in "He Dog"
pays homage not only to the "sacred dog", the horse, of the Plains Indians,
but also to the noble life of a great Dakota.
Limited Edition Giclée on paper
handsigned by the artist
On June 25, 1876, Red Horse, a
Minneconjou Lakota head chief, rode under Lamedeer into an unexpected fight
with Lt. George Custer. In the ravines and on the ridges along the Little
Bighorn River, Custer and his Gray Horse Troop met their fate.
Despite instructions to wait for
reinforcements, Custer inexplicably divided up his command and proceeded to
attack. For uniformity of appearance, Custer had given each company of
the 7th Calvary its own color horses. According to Indian accounts, the
prominent gray horses of Company E were the easiest to follow in the
confusion of battle.
When Custer and his men were surrounded, they
released their remaining gray horses. Stampeding through the Indian lines,
the horses were captured near the river.
Limited Edition Giclée on paper
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''Air, particularly in the form of wind, can spook even a savvy horse more
than any other element. The wind provides protection to the wild horse,
carrying smells of danger, and giving it time to escape to safety. ''
Limited Edition Giclée on paper
handsigned by the artist
To live in harmony with the forces of nature
is the essence of being wild. The untamed mustang embodies unbound
freedom, honed by the raucous ebb and flow of Mother Nature. Instincts,
unfettered by the influence of man and acquired over millennia, guide,
like guardian spirits, the horse's coexistence with the elements.
Limited Edition Giclée on paper
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"Pryor Commitment" honors the
wild mustangs of the Wyoming Pryor Mountain Range.
It is a poignant reminder of legal promises
made and broken to protect and defend the wild mustangs against those who
would do harm in the name of profit or expediency. Over half the land in 11
western states are public lands and yet the wild mustangs are shoved into
the bitterest of landscapes and told to "survive if you can".
Judy brings to this stallion and his mares a
sense of heroism, for they are the descendants of a determined and resilient
species. What other animal has gained mankind so much and asked for so
little in return?
Hidden in the image you will find the
promises of the future in the form of two foals. Intelligent, beautiful, the
wild mustang is not only a part of our national heritage, but a potent
reminder of what it means to be free.
Limited Edition Giclée on paper
handsigned by the artist
"The Protesters" portrays three prized Nez
Percé horses, running for their very lives, in an attempt to evade the
three U.S. cavalry soldiers (hidden in their coats) bent on their
destruction. These horses represent the spirit of the Nez Percé, which
continues to survive against all odds.
Limited Edition Giclée on paper
handsigned by the artist
"The Fugitives" is inspired by
the Bureau of Land Management's plan to remove, over the next several
years, nearly fifty percent of all wild horses from public lands.
Running towards us from a dark background, these three are headed for a
future that is even more foreboding. Larson, through her unique
scratchboard and concealment technique has immortalized other members of
the herd in the coats of these three wild spirits "on the
run."
Limited Edition Giclée on paper
handsigned by the artist
"... the word reveals several meanings," Larson tells
us. Concealed in the female wolf's coat (left of her shoulder), you'll find
the face of a Native American woman; on the male wolf's neck, a man. the
flank of the female wolf bears a Native American man's face to represent the
rest of the tribe. Larson adds, "I've grouped the wolves closely to
emphasize the necessity of tribal and pack members - male and female - to
work together to ensure survival."
Limited Edition Giclée on paper
handsigned by the artist
In many ways, Medicine Crow, a Mountain Crow,
born in 1848, was typical of the Native American of his day--steadfast and
loyal to his people, an important contributor to his tribe. His 'medicine'
(an object thought to give control over natural or magical forces) was a
hawk, which he wore as part of his headdress. In battle, it was more
important for him to touch his enemy--count coup--than it was for him to
kill his enemy. Medicine Crow fought for the white man twice, against the
Nez Perce in Chief Joseph's retreat and against the Sioux under Sitting Bull
when they were seeking sanctuary in Canada.
Limited Edition Giclée on paper
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"Three Wolves is perhaps more symbolic
than any of my other paintings. Of the three wolves, only one is
real, representing the anticipated success of the reintroduction
program. Two are hidden, representing the future, when, hopefully,
wolves will be numerous enough and comfortable enough to behave
naturally, as they would in the wild. Here, the dominant wolf is
running flat out, legs tucked under him, sprinting out of the sheer
luxury of being alive and out of the knowledge that he is first. The
second wolf races to catch up, with mouth agape, challenging the
leader. All three run with the horses, for they share a time and
place in history.
The horses are symbolic as well.
While the mares are important, their role in the picture is
deemphasized. Their foals, however, represent hope for the future,
as concerned breeders seek to protect and to continue these and
other rare bloodlines. The foals are exceptional in their own right,
for one is a medicine hat paint, the other, a war bonnet paint. Some
Native American tribes considered horses with these markings to be
imbued with supernatural power. As tiny groups of rare animals
survive despite insurmountable odds, their rescues provide a
precious second chance for them and for us, as well".
- Judy Larson
Limited Edition Giclée on paper
handsigned by the artist
When the Europeans
arrived in the New World, they brought with them a fear of the
wariness of wolves that stemmed from their long history as
shepherds. Their fears and misgivings came from centuries of
struggling to protect their flocks and families from predation by
wolves.
In contrast, the Native
Americans respected and revered the wolf for its prowess as a shrewd
hunter. They even allowed their children to engage in play with wolf
pups. Europeans traveling westward viewed this behavior skeptically
and considered it further proof of the extraordinary difference
between their respective civilizations.
"Child’s Play"
celebrates the wolf, now listed as an endangered and threatened
species. The subtle hidden image of the two Native American children
asks that we replace the deep superstitions of our European
ancestors and awaken to the joy and wisdom wolves bring to our
world.
- Judy Larson
Limited Edition Giclée on paper
handsigned by the artist
Large-scale predator programs,
sanctioned by the Congress, were pursued with zeal and
determination, forcing the wolf to teeter on the brink of
extinction. Conservation programs, including the reintroduction of
wolves to the wild, have brought back the packs. This wolf is
emerging from the darkness of his almost extinction.
Limited Edition Giclée on paper
handsigned by the artist
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