Painting of the Week: “Where the Buffalo Roam, Isaiah 40:31”

By Thomas Kegler

“Where the Buffalo Roam, Isaiah 40:31” is an oil painting born from a deep connection to the wild heart of Yellowstone National Park in the Lamar Valley and a reflection on endurance and hope. Painted after years of family pilgrimages to this sacred landscape, this work captures a moment of transcendent stillness at dusk, the time when the light seems to hold its breath before the darkness envelopes the landscape.

A herd of (iconic) buffalo—making their way along a winding river, leads the eye into a vast, misty valley, all framed by the park’s formidable mountain ranges. My goal was to translate the visceral feeling of being in that space: the cool air, the silence broken only by the movement and vocalization of the herd, and the breathtaking warmth of the sun as it dips over the peaks.

The dramatic, luminous light is central to the piece. I utilized many layers of oil paint through glazing and scumbling to achieve depth, atmosphere, and mood. The process and effects help carry the metaphor for the painting’s spiritual undercurrent, drawn from the reference Isaiah 40:31: “but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” The bison, moving with steady, resolute purpose across the terrain, embody this quiet strength. They are an ancient, powerful presence that has survived countless seasons, serving as a powerful symbol of resilience, renewal, and the enduring grace of the natural world.

This painting is a tribute to the raw beauty of the American West, a commemoration of the memories forged with my children in the wild expanse of Yellowstone, and a meditation on the powerful truth that in moments of quiet reverence, we can all find our strength renewed.

Connect with the artist at thomaskegler.com.

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