"The closer you are to its environment, the better you will be able to portray the subject,” says wildlife artist Dan Smith. And he should know. Smith goes on location, gets close to the subjects he paints and studies them where they live. "Icon of the West" is a rugged portrait of the defining symbol of the West, the American Bison. His wooly, stoic face is the embodiment of the often rough and harsh life out on the open plains. Smith has superbly captured the demeanor of this burly giant in a timeless portrait of formidable strength.