Albert Einstein once said, “The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources.” Pablo Picasso added, “Good artists copy, great artists steal.”
The heart of both quotes lies in the same truth: creativity isn’t about imitation, it’s about transformation. It’s about taking what inspires you and reshaping it through your own lens until it becomes something entirely new.
The Spark
For me, that inspiration began with my favorite artist of all time, Bev Doolittle. When I was nine years old, I saw her painting Calling the Buffalo for the first time. It hung in a restaurant where my aunt worked, and I remember being absolutely spellbound.
In Doolittle’s painting, a Native American holds a bison skull toward the oncoming storm clouds above a pond. In the reflection below, the rocks transform into real American buffalo. It was the first time I’d seen art tell a story through reflection, something magical, spiritual, and deeply connected to nature. From that moment on, I knew I wanted to create something like it one day.
The Collaboration
Years later, I met Jessy Vanpo (@the.worried.wanderer), a young advocate for public lands and wildlife protection. When she told me her favorite animal was the wolf, everything clicked.
Just like Doolittle’s bison skull calling the herd, Jessy’s work calls her generation, and all of us, to stand together for our wild places. That’s when the idea for Calling the Pack was born.
Bringing the Vision to Life
This piece was a true collaboration. Jessy’s input shaped every creative choice, from her favorite colors of orange, yellow, and green (which became the heart of the palette) to her preference for a daytime howling scene instead of night. Her cheery, optimistic, and sunny spirit shines through every brushstroke.
When we talked about where to set the scene, Jessy mentioned she’d love to visit Grand Teton National Park. I couldn’t have imagined a better place. The Tetons’ iconic peaks form the perfect shapes for a reflection - a reflection that transforms not into mountains, but into a pack of howling wolves answering the call.
Full Circle
When I finally stepped back from the finished piece, I couldn’t help but notice the echoes of Calling the Buffalo - the warm oranges and yellows, the reflections that blur the line between spirit and form, the shared sense of connection and reverence.
But Calling the Pack has its own heartbeat. It’s a call of the wild, and a call to arms. A reminder that when our home, our public lands, and the creatures who live there are at risk, we must stand together.
A Shared Mission
Creating this painting alongside Jessy was pure joy. We share a deep belief that art and advocacy can move people, and that by celebrating beauty we can inspire action.
I hope Calling the Pack makes you feel that same pull, that you belong to this pack too. The pack that hears the call of the wild and isn't afraid to answer back.
Available in gallery-quality archival canvas and paper prints. Perfect for wolf lovers and national park enthusiasts. Shop this timeless piece here.