This image came from a desire to use some incredible reference material I had - both for the spectacular sunrise clouds and mountain, and for a magnificent 7x7 bull elk...elk and landscape come from the Canadian Rockies, and this bad boy was very sure of his status as a bad-ass. He had a good-size harem and, while we watched him, made short work of a smaller bull that showed up following a cow, apparently without realizing this harem-master was around. I've wanted to paint this gorgeous guy for a long time, and the idea with the sunrise seemed right.