Driving through Colorado, I noticed across the prairie, a stand of cottonwood and willows. 

 In the middle of nowhere there was an “oasis”. 

My mind wandered to a place where I began to think of the buffalo drinking from the creek or a puddle that must be there.  My mind traveled on to the Indians and did they camp or at least stop there?  I sketched many different collections of Indians, then others that could have camped there and nothing

seemed right, so I let it lie there. 

Finally, a few years ago a light turned on and I saw this spirit rising out of the ashes in the last wisp of smoke from many campfires.  

After a few sketches in clay, I launched into the final look.  The burnt logs and sticks and mostly embers worked out fairly well, but the smoke was a killer.  When finished, I held my breath.  It looked okay, but I soon realized it did not illustrate my feelings.  I discovered that it wouldn’t have the power I felt was there unless they viewer had to look up to the spirit – so the base should be placed at forty to forty-eight inches

off the floor.  However, it’s really up to the viewer to make that decision.