HE DOG Anniversary Edition
$595.00
Editorial View
The Gallery's Perspective
You notice the urgent momentum first — three Appaloosa horses, necks out and manes tossed, charging together as if every stride matters. The grayscale palette and fine, linear detail give the scene an intense, almost cinematic presence; without color, the contrasts of coat, muscle and breath read with a raw clarity that feels both immediate and timeless. There is tenderness hidden in the energy: the horses run as a unit, their bodies closely aligned, which suggests a shared purpose and a fragile communal strength. Look closely and the delicate linework of scratchboard is apparent in the textured fur and the smoky background, where soft edges let the figures emerge from atmosphere rather than sit on it. Because the image pairs motion with careful, patient mark-making, it creates a moving balance between urgency and craft — a moment of escape rendered with respect and attention. The result is both dramatic and quietly dignified, a work that carries memory and resilience along with its forward drive.
The Artwork
About THE PROTESTERS Limited Edition
THE PROTESTERS<br> LIMITED EDITION PRINT
Lofty, elegantly formed, active and durable; described explorer Meriwether Lewis in 1806, in short, many of them look like fine English coursers. The spotted horses of the Nez PercT were unlike any he and William Clark had ever seen. Named by the Nez PercT after the Palouse River, these wildly colored horses were believed to be gifts from the gods.
In 1877, the Nez PercT entered a war with the U.S. government, and the entire tribe with its several thousand carefully bred horses, embarked on a journey that would take them 1,300 miles toward the safe haven of Canada. Only forty miles from the border, the Nez PercT were besieged and outnumbered by the U.S. cavalry. Forced to surrender, Chief Joseph and his captured people were taken far from their homeland. Their exceptional horses, which Chief Joseph referred to as my children, were deliberately killed by the U.S. cavalry in attempt to thwart any further escape by the Nez PercT, and also to crush the spirit of the Nez PercT by killing their animal companions. The U.S. Government sought to annihilate the tribal horses much as they sought to destroy the buffalo.Only a few horses were lost in the mountains, sold in the east, or hidden away by ranchers. By the beginning of the 20th century, fewer than 300 Appaloosa horses remained.
The Protesters portrays three prized Nez PercT horses, running for their very lives, in an attempt to evade the three U.S. cavalry soldiers (hidden in their coats) bent on their destruction. These horses represent the spirit of the Nez PercT, which continues to survive against all odds.
Look CloserThe time consuming art of scratchboard is unrivaled in its detail, allowing Judy's seemless concealment of imagery within her subject. To view the extraordinary hidden images within Judy's work, click here.
In 1877, the Nez PercT entered a war with the U.S. government, and the entire tribe with its several thousand carefully bred horses, embarked on a journey that would take them 1,300 miles toward the safe haven of Canada. Only forty miles from the border, the Nez PercT were besieged and outnumbered by the U.S. cavalry. Forced to surrender, Chief Joseph and his captured people were taken far from their homeland. Their exceptional horses, which Chief Joseph referred to as my children, were deliberately killed by the U.S. cavalry in attempt to thwart any further escape by the Nez PercT, and also to crush the spirit of the Nez PercT by killing their animal companions. The U.S. Government sought to annihilate the tribal horses much as they sought to destroy the buffalo.Only a few horses were lost in the mountains, sold in the east, or hidden away by ranchers. By the beginning of the 20th century, fewer than 300 Appaloosa horses remained.
The Protesters portrays three prized Nez PercT horses, running for their very lives, in an attempt to evade the three U.S. cavalry soldiers (hidden in their coats) bent on their destruction. These horses represent the spirit of the Nez PercT, which continues to survive against all odds.
Look CloserThe time consuming art of scratchboard is unrivaled in its detail, allowing Judy's seemless concealment of imagery within her subject. To view the extraordinary hidden images within Judy's work, click here.
Collector Details
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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.
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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.
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