The first time I met Cloud was in the summer of 2013. During that trip I was able to campout three nights on Pryor Mountain. As it happened, Cloud’s band was one of the first that I saw on that trip. Seeing him was such a thrill and tears filled my eyes.
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| "Thunder on Top of the Mountain" 12x16 |
Encore was a foal in 2013, and was so much like Cloud in
personality and appearance. I spent as much time as I could with them during
that trip.
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| "Encore Frolic" 6x8 |
In 2014, I was honored with an Artist-in-Residence position
at Bighorn Canyon Recreation Area. My goal was to paint the horses that lived
on the Dryhead. I spent my time following those bands and learning about them
while I painted. In the course of my Residency, I went up the mountain to
search for Cloud.
He had lost his band earlier and was able to win some back.
He even had a foal in his small band. This was a very peaceful visit as he kept
his family away from a lot of other bands.
That summer we also had the Celebration of Wild Horses
through Art and Music to benefit The Cloud Foundation. That was a very popular
and successful event.
Later that afternoon, it became apparent that this stallion
could only be Cloud. He got into a brief sparring match with another stallion
and his iconic personality as a bold stallion was on display. I also spent time
with him while he napped, hung out on the snow at the waterhole, and peacefully
grazed in the meadow.
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| Cloud, July 2015. His blaze and socks obscured by mud. |
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| Cloud spars with another stallion. |
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| Cloud peacefully grazes. |
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| "Cloud Portrait" |
Cloud is one of the most inspiring stallions and painting
him is such a thrill. Please email me about availability of these and other Cloud paintings. To see and purchase photographs of Cloud, please visit, Equus ferus Wild Horse Photography.
