HE DOG Anniversary Edition
$595.00
Editorial View
The Gallery's Perspective
There’s an immediate, warm curiosity in the horse’s forward-tilted head and wide, attentive eyes — as if the animal has just turned toward you in mid-conversation. Judy Larson renders the coat with careful, tactile strokes that give a believable softness and individual personality to this single horse, while behind it a procession of simplified, colorful horse silhouettes feels almost like a memory or a story unfolding across the wall. The contrast between the intimate, naturalistic foreground portrait and the stylized, flattened herd creates a gentle tension: one horse is present and particular, the others read as legend, echo, or lineage. Muted earth tones and dusty golds keep the palette grounded and quiet, while the pops of rust, olive, black and white in the background figures add a rhythmic, decorative energy. The small human figure among the silhouettes subtly hints at the story mentioned in the edition notes without insisting on narrative detail, letting the image feel both personal and communal. Overall, the piece offers a friendly immediacy—comforting, attentive, and quietly storytelling—that could bring character and a sense of heritage to a living space or study.
The Artwork
About Elk Dog Tipi
Elk Dog Tipi<br> LIMITED EDITION CANVAS
Artist Judy Larson’s newest fine art edition revisits one of her cherished inspirations, Native American storytelling and legend. Like her previous release Crow Tipi, The Elk Dog Tipi is from a Blackfoot story, this time the legend of how horses came to be known to man. It was a powerful legend since acquiring horses drastically altered the Native American way of life.
Water Spirit's Gift of Horses
A poor, orphan boy, trying to find his way in the world, embarked on a vision journey. Traveling far from his tribe without success, the boy sat down to weep beside a large lake. Hearing the boy in his distress, a powerful Water Spirit, who lived in the lake, sent his young son to tell the boy that he wished to see him. Water Spirit's son cautioned the boy to close his eyes, hold on to his shoulders, and not to look as they started into the water. As they progressed deeper and deeper into the lake, Water Spirit's son told the boy that his father would offer him his choice of all the animals that lived in the lake. Be sure to choose the oldest mallard of the ducks and all its young ones, instructed Water Spirit's son.
At last the son and the boy reached the underwater lodge of the Water Spirit, and the boy was told to open his eyes. The Water Spirit, an old man with long white hair, welcomed the boy and asked him why he was so sad. As the boy explained his plight, Water Spirit offered his help, telling the boy that all the animals in the lake were his to give, and the boy should choose which one he wanted. Remembering the son's advice, the boy asked for the old mallard, but the Water Spirit just shook his head and said, Don't take that one, for it is old and of no value. Nevertheless, four times the boy insisted, and at last, the Water Spirit smiled and told the young boy that he had chosen wisely. The son then took the boy to the edge of the lake, and after night fell, the son caught the old mallard with a rope that he had braided from marsh grass. Placing the rope in the boy's hand, the son instructed the boy to walk on, but not to look back until sunrise.
As the boy traveled toward his camp in the darkness, he heard the flapping of the duck's wings behind him, but he did not look back. As he continued on, the flapping changed into heavy feet pounding on the ground, and the braided marsh grass rope began to turn into a rawhide rope. At sunrise, the boy looked back and beheld a large animal at the end of his rope, a horse. He mounted the horse, using the rope as a bridle. Many other horses joined his horse, and as the boy came into camp, the people were afraid, for they had never seen horses before. The boy dismounted, calmed his people's fears, and gave everyone horses and kept many for himself.
The boy gave the horse its Blackfoot name of elk dog, for it was large like an elk, but could serve the people, like a dog. He taught the people how to break and ride the horses, how to use them for packing, how to hunt buffalo from their backs, how to make bridles, hackamores and saddles, and how to use the horses to cross streams. When the boy grew older, the people made him a chief and honored him all of his days, for he was wise and generous.
Water Spirit's Gift of Horses
A poor, orphan boy, trying to find his way in the world, embarked on a vision journey. Traveling far from his tribe without success, the boy sat down to weep beside a large lake. Hearing the boy in his distress, a powerful Water Spirit, who lived in the lake, sent his young son to tell the boy that he wished to see him. Water Spirit's son cautioned the boy to close his eyes, hold on to his shoulders, and not to look as they started into the water. As they progressed deeper and deeper into the lake, Water Spirit's son told the boy that his father would offer him his choice of all the animals that lived in the lake. Be sure to choose the oldest mallard of the ducks and all its young ones, instructed Water Spirit's son.
At last the son and the boy reached the underwater lodge of the Water Spirit, and the boy was told to open his eyes. The Water Spirit, an old man with long white hair, welcomed the boy and asked him why he was so sad. As the boy explained his plight, Water Spirit offered his help, telling the boy that all the animals in the lake were his to give, and the boy should choose which one he wanted. Remembering the son's advice, the boy asked for the old mallard, but the Water Spirit just shook his head and said, Don't take that one, for it is old and of no value. Nevertheless, four times the boy insisted, and at last, the Water Spirit smiled and told the young boy that he had chosen wisely. The son then took the boy to the edge of the lake, and after night fell, the son caught the old mallard with a rope that he had braided from marsh grass. Placing the rope in the boy's hand, the son instructed the boy to walk on, but not to look back until sunrise.
As the boy traveled toward his camp in the darkness, he heard the flapping of the duck's wings behind him, but he did not look back. As he continued on, the flapping changed into heavy feet pounding on the ground, and the braided marsh grass rope began to turn into a rawhide rope. At sunrise, the boy looked back and beheld a large animal at the end of his rope, a horse. He mounted the horse, using the rope as a bridle. Many other horses joined his horse, and as the boy came into camp, the people were afraid, for they had never seen horses before. The boy dismounted, calmed his people's fears, and gave everyone horses and kept many for himself.
The boy gave the horse its Blackfoot name of elk dog, for it was large like an elk, but could serve the people, like a dog. He taught the people how to break and ride the horses, how to use them for packing, how to hunt buffalo from their backs, how to make bridles, hackamores and saddles, and how to use the horses to cross streams. When the boy grew older, the people made him a chief and honored him all of his days, for he was wise and generous.
Collector Details
What to Know About This Piece
Product-specific details, edition information, provenance, and special considerations are shown here when applicable.
About the Collection
Judy Larson's contemporary portraiture blends abstract portrait art with emotional expression, offering a unique approach to figurative abstraction. Her mixed media portraiture captures the essence of the human form through vibrant color, textured paintings, and dynamic compositions. Larson's work delves into the psychological depth of her subjects, creating psychological portraits that speak to the viewer on a personal and emotive level. Through her use of expressive color and innovative techniques, she explores the complexity of human identity and emotion, turning the traditional portrait into a modern, conceptual work of art. Her modern figurative art invites viewers to explore the intersection of color, texture, and form in powerful visual narratives.
Artist Signature
Signed by the artist
This piece is artist signed and includes a Certificate of Authenticity.
Image Rights
Image copyright © 2026 by Judy Larson.
Authorized Source
Authenticity & Documentation
Buy with confidence
Limited-edition artwork includes a Certificate of Authenticity when one is issued by the artist, publisher, studio, or authorized source. Open-edition pieces may not include a certificate; this does not affect their authenticity. The Collection Shop sources artwork through artists, publishers, authorized distributors, galleries, and other approved channels. Any additional documentation included with this specific piece will be noted above.
Judy Larson always knew she was going to be an artist. She was surrounded by them as a child, and was particularly inspired by her father, a professional illustrator. Judy received a Bachelor of Science degree in Commercial Art from Pacific Union College in Northern California, then spent the next 17 years as a commercial artist, illustrator and art director. In 1988, influenced by her love of nature and animals, Judy devoted her time to wildlife art. Her primary focus in each of her paintings is the animal, with the horse as a recurring subject. Her unique approach to her work is through the use of scratch board--a technique that can render magnificent detail but one requiring infinite patience. Scratch board, an old, but little used medium, consists of a smooth, thin surface of hardened China clay applied to a board. The subject is then painted solidly with black India ink to create a silhouette. Now the exacting work begins, engraving the image into the surface of the artwork. While many artists use steel nibs or engraving tools, Judy prefers to work with X-acto blades, changing them ever few minutes to produce as fine a line as possible. Once the subject has been totally scratched, it is a finished black and white illustration, ready for the artist to add color. The methods of adding color are diverse. Judy prefers a combination of airbrush, gouache or acrylics for finishing, with frequent rescratching for detail. Scratch board is a demanding medium, one that Judy has used masterfully in developing her unique approach to wildlife art.
Personal Gallery Assistance
Questions before adding this piece to your collection?
We are happy to help with availability, shipping, edition details, or purchasing questions.