Cold Fury
1988
oil, 20" x 16"

I once visited an establishment that took care of abandoned, neglected or injured animals. These were “wild” animals. It was winter and very cold, with snow on the ground. There was a cougar in a small cage and when I approached, it flung itself at me snarling and spitting. Subsequently, I learned that it had been acquired as a kitten by someone in New York City and kept confined in the basement day and night until the owner grew bored. No wonder it was enraged and bitter. The incident inspired me to paint this small picture of the animal charging furiously through the snow. The title, Cold Fury, described how it looked and how I felt.