The Honor of Being Pipe Carrier
$1,800.00
Editorial View
The Gallery's Perspective
The moment between two figures at the center of this canvas feels both intimate and ceremonial. A medicine man, leaning forward with quiet intent, touches the forehead of a seated man while a soft plume of smoke rises between them—a visual breath that links body, spirit, and ritual. Howard Terpning’s warm, earthy palette and the glow of diffused light from above create a sense of enclosure and calm, as if the ceremony is sheltered from the wider world. Around the pair, other participants sit in attentive stillness; their varied postures and expressions give the scene a communal feeling without drawing focus away from the blessing itself. Textural details—the woven bags, furs, and the grass underfoot—help ground the moment in everyday material life, while the vertical folds of cloth and the haloed light suggest something sacred is taking place. The painting rewards a quiet look: it’s less about spectacle than about the careful, human exchange of tradition, care, and protection passed between people.
The Artwork
About BLESSING FROM THE MEDICINE MAN
Thunderstorms rumble across the plains indicating winter"s end and the onset of spring. The People, as the Blackfoot refer to themselves, use this as the signal to gather for the Thunder Pipe Ceremony, a celebration of spring rains, renewed life and good health.
This sacred pipe, according to legend, was a gift to the People from the spirit of Thunder, who the Blackfeet believed was one of the mightiest manifestations of the All Powerful One. This gift was passed down through a succession of keepers.
When a date for the opening of a pipe bundle is announced, four drummers are notified and a shaman is appointed. Arrangements are made for the feast and the sacred berry soup. The ceremony is held in two lodges placed face to face. The ceremony, likened to the fertility rites of other ancient peoples, is highly structured and the ritual is split between participants and spectators. The pipe bundle is unwrapped only after a morning of prayers and song. After a great feast, the ceremony continues for those who are authorized to dance with the pipe in order to receive its power.
At the ceremony"s end, spectators were allowed to come forward and receive individual blessings from the medicine man, bestowed with four sacred streaks of red pigment, placed on the forehead, each cheek and chin. While these markings seem representative of the four directions, the certainty of their meaning lies with the medicine man.
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About the Collection
Howard Terpning is one of the most celebrated Western artists, known for his historically rich and emotionally compelling depictions of Native American life. With a deep respect for Plains Indian culture, his paintings capture narrative storytelling in art, bringing history to life through traditional oil paintings. A member of the Cowboy Artists of America, Terpning’s work is recognized for its historical realism and museum-quality craftsmanship. His fine art prints and originals are highly sought after, making him a defining figure in American West painting.
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Signed by the artist
This piece is artist signed and includes a Certificate of Authenticity.
Image Rights
Image copyright © 2026 by Howard Terpning.
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Quite simply, Howard Terpning is one of the most lauded painters of Western art. His awards are so numerous and he is honored with them so often, that to list them would require changing the count every few months. To name three would be to cite the highest prizes awarded to Western art: countless awards from the Cowboy Artists of America, the Hubbard Art Award for Excellence, the National Academy of Western Art s Prix de West and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Gene Autry Museum.
Why such praise? Passion, compassion, devotion and respect for his subject matter, extraordinary talent in palette and brushstroke, an exceptional ability to evoke emotion both in his paintings and from those viewing them — all this and more has made Terpning the "Storyteller of the Native American."
Born in Illinois and educated at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts and the American Academy of Art, he first gained attention from some powerful Time and Newsweek covers. Film fans praised his movie posters for such classics as The Sound of Music, Dr. Zhivago and the re-issue of Gone with the Wind.
But his love of the West and Native American traditions saw his transition to fine art. Terpning was a long-time member of the Cowboy Artists of America, which has presented him with Gold and Silver awards, "Best of Show" awards, and "Best Overall Show by a Single Artist" awards more than two dozen times.
His first book, The Art of Howard Terpning won the Wrangler "Outstanding Art Book" award from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. Spirit of the Plains People, his second book, was released in 2001 in conjunction with a one-man show at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art. A third, Tribute to the Plains People, was released in 2012 to celebrate his retrospective at The Autry National Center in Los Angeles.
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