Wild Things Artwork
by Patsy Lindamood

17"H x 24"W pastel painting on Ampersand Pastelbord.

This painting is based on a coyote I photographed in Yellowstone National Park in September 2008. We had stopped to view some elk seen from the road, standing back under the trees. Once we parked and crossed the road for a better view of the elk, we spied this coyote across the meadow, looking our way to check out the gathering crowd.

We assumed the coyote would turn around and head back into the trees himself. Instead, he began to criss-cross the field, heading in our direction. He actually came within some 20 feet or so of us, and I have some photos of him looking directly at me! (That's another painting!) Satisfied he knew what was up, he turned around and headed back across the meadow. The late afternoon light illuminating both the coyote, as he scoped the horizon, and the entire field created a stunning visual image I just had to try to capture in a painting.