Anyone who lives in Del Norte County has multiple encounters with the elk, particularly harrowing experiences when the giants amble across their territories, now etched by our narrow highways.

As a teen, I recall vividly jolting awake, hearing our high school basketball coach behind the van’s wheel swear. As we drove home from an out of town game, the van gave a lurch and my eyes flew open to meet directly the gaze of an elk, narrowly passing on the road’s shoulder.

This painting is based on a photograph by my talented neighbor, Jermaine Brubaker. Thanks again, Jermaine!