When the Eiteljorg Museum presented wildlife artist Daniel Smith with the Quest for the West Art Show and Sale’s first-ever Artist of Distinction Award, they set the bar exceptionally high. The Artist of Distinction Award, which confers Smith with an exclusive one-man exhibition at this year’s Quest for the West show, represents just significant his work is to the art community at large.
"Sun Struck," Smith’s Fine Art Limited Edition, demonstrates all the qualities that make the artist an award-winner. While Dan Smith is known for his portraits of elk, we wanted to wait until exactly the right image came along to publish it as a full-size canvas. The instant we saw Sun Struck, we knew we had a winner. As the pale golden dawn greets the mighty elk, Smith’s deft and flawless brushstrokes create a truly unforgettable scene.

What if you wake up and look out of your tent — to see this solitary elk bellowing out a low call and frosty breath? As long as you don't think about the intimidating size and power of these animals (the bull can weigh in at well over 750 pounds, stand six feet tall at the shoulder, have an antler spread of five feet and can run up to 35 miles an hour), you can feel the romance Frazier did being close to such magnificence.