America on the Rise

Some time ago, I watched a Canadian falconer holding a bald eagle on his gloved and moving hand, forcing the bird to open its wings to keep its balance. I captured the most wonderful photograph and knew I would use the image for a future painting. It took several years for me to envision an appropriate setting. The background is based on memories of numerous trips in rugged terrain, but this is the first time I’ve painted a foggy atmosphere. I positioned the eagle on a standing snag covered with the yellow mosses seen in western North American forests.--Carl Brenders