"Sacred Land of the Ute"

To complete this painting, I consulted several research books on Ute traditions and ceremonial items. The shirt, leggings, and pipe bag are all based on Ute items from the latter quarter of the 19th century. The bent trees in the background are based on prayer trees in the Pikes Peak region (including some that are on the property of friends). Pikes Peak at sundown glows in the background; Ute pipe ceremonies were usually done at sunset. Buffalo hide robes were used by the Ute, and unlike other tribes that typically wore them hair-side-in, Utes wore them either way, with hair side both inward or outward.