King Of Hearts

A lion sitting in profile looking into the distance, with green mountains and blue sky in the background. Jungle. Rainbow stained-glass colors. Large Painting by artist Donald Ryker in textured expressionist impressionist art style with unique impasto glaze technique.

King of Hearts shows the proud bearing and beautiful form of the male lion at rest in nature. As part of my Lion Series this work has the color, connection, and vitality of animals in the wild. Touching an animal is a luxurious tactile experience. Most people don’t get to touch a lion. In painting the mane I wanted to evoke the sensation I used to get running my fingers through my collies thick ruff. I created this feeling with the textured paint and rainbow of glazes.
I chose the title because I have used King of Hearts as my avatar online. It is also a character in anime. As a person in a wheelchair many people might view me as powerless. I never have felt that way and choose to identify with images that reflect the strength, individuality, and confidence that I truly feel. This painting conveys so many connections for me and it has the majesty, power and presence that people have attributed to the other paintings in my Lion series. – Donald Ryker

Available as:
Original Painting $6,000
Print $55