My bison hide recently returned from the tanner. Being frugal and knowing that this hide would see a lot of time on the ground and abuse, I had troubles justifying having it brain tanned. I also knew that my time to tan it was limited (I have not the time for much other than the basic needs lately) and that this was a big job to take on for my skills. I opted to send it to Moyle’s Mink and Tannery. They did a smashing job. The robe ended up being appr. 7×7 feet and weighs less than 11 pounds. It is very soft and supple, and it rolls up to a roll the size of my double 3 pt. Rob Stone.
I decided to do a small amount of painting on it just because I think it deserved it (the hide and the bison it came from). After thinking on it A LOT, I decided to go with a simple multi-tiered “warbonnet” or sunburst design. I liked the somewhat more “western” look to it and think it plays well into what I generally do here in the western Great Lakes with the fur trade. I also see it in some Rindisbacher images from not TOO far away and a Catlin image of One-Eye Decorah, whose villages were within 30 mi. of my house. For the painting, I used hide glue as my medium and for pigments used soot, real vermilion, and verdigris.
Now to break it in!
Very well done painting! Should keep you warm in camp on cold nights.