Among the Desert Giants

by James Ayers

Edition Size: 95

Size: 45x30

More about Among the Desert Giants
Fierce Apache warriors charge through the unforgiving Sonoran Desert bedeviling their foe. Few tribes were as feared as the Apache - they kept other tribes and new settlers constantly on edge, waiting for the next bold Apache raid.
Background
This painting was inspired by a hike in the Pinnacle Peak, Arizona area. As I walked the path through the giant saguaro cacti, I could easily imagine a group of Apache blazing through the desert, their horses kicking up dust as they go.
Painting Details
The lead rider carries a Sharps Carbine rifle, one of the choice weapons of the time. The gun was small and powerful with the benefits of both distance and accuracy. The third rider is armed with a Henry Yellow Boy rifle, also a popular weapon of the day. The other warriors have bows and arrows in quivers.
The first warrior wears a medicine cord around his shoulders made up of charms and tokens meant to confer strength and prayer feathers for success in battle.
In terms of composition, I painted this from the perspective of someone on the ground watching these fearsome fellows riding by. The converging angle of the saguaro lends drama and tension to the active scene.