The Intruder

I had a good time painting this, as I wondered just who the intruder really is. Is it the car, the buffalo, the dog, the boy or all of them?

What is the boy worried about… the car that obviously is not his own, but that he’s apparently allowed to drive, his faithful companion, the dog or his own safety?

We see a car broken down from running through the stream (wet spark plugs?) and the boy in front, perhaps cranking the motor, when the buffalo arrives.

The dog is attempting to protect the boy, while the boy doesn’t know what to do and just wants both the dog and the buffalo to cool it. What happens next is anyone’s guess.

The Intruder
Gale F. Trapp, 2013
Acrylic on board 12×16

Santa’s Last Stop

Santa’s Last Stop
Gale F. Trapp, 2012
Acrylic on board

One last stop on a remote country road and this tired “Santa” finishes his route, but not before bringing joy to excited children and relief to tired parents. I wonder though, will he actually be able to make it home?

The Dancer

This dancer is one of “Bugs Boys”, mountain man lingo for Blackfoot warriors. In his right hand he holds a coup stick, in his left a turtle shell rattle. He has eagle feathers in his hair. So, just what is he celebrating? Did he successfully count coup on another warrior, or perhaps a mountain man. Could it be that he is just preparing himself for war?

The Dancer
Gale F. Trapp, 2013
Acrylic on board

About Counting Coup
Counting coup was the greatest exploit and highest honor a warrior could earn. Demonstrated courage was the essence of a warrior’s superiority over his opponent, and even over his own tribe members. Killing may have been a part of war, but courage in the battle was more important for individual status.

Any blow struck against the enemy counted, but touching an enemy warrior with the hand, bow or coup stick and then escaping unharmed was the most prestigious form of coup. A warrior who won coup had the honor of wearing an eagle feather in his hair, but warriors wounded during the attempt had to paint the eagle feather red.

http://plainshumanities.unl.edu/encyclopedia/doc/egp.war.013