Indian Summer - Bugling Elk by wildlife artist Carl Brenders

Indian Summer - Bugling Elk by Carl Brenders available from Prickly Pear Galleries.

 

"This is a  "

 

"During autumn, elk are easy to spot in Yellowstone National Park, right from your car window. But that's not what I want. I want to meet them on a hiking trip, with my feet in the middle of nature, alone with those magnificent animals competing with other males and herding their cows into the clearings.

 

"I tried to capture such a moment in this painting. To increase the dramatic feeling, I chose a strong backlight, not usual for me. It was a real challenge.One has to use strong contrast and warm and cool colors to get the right effect. The story of light is very present in this scene: a light that only exists during Indian summer in the West. This unique light makes sagebrush something else that is typical of the West, very exciting to paint, and so it is a dominant part of this painting...

 

"After finishing this peice, I was so grateful that it turned out so well - that I could record such a scene with only some paint and some brushes! The end result is not always evident when you're in the middle of a painting, but when you are successful it's always a surprise and it always gives me great pleasure." - Carl Brenders from his new book "Pride of Place" (2007).

 

Print and Canvas released 1999.