Mitzi Kanla Appraisal

Signed Native American Buffalo Dancer Watercolor by Mitzi Kanla

This is a fine art watercolor and gouache painting on paper, executed in 1983, depicting a Native American Buffalo Dancer in traditional ceremonial regalia. The central figure is shown in a dynamic, forward-leaning posture, wearing a thick black buffalo hide headdress with horns, a dark shirt, an elaborate white kilt with a long vertical red and white woven sash, and ceremonial boots with blue decorative elements. The dancer holds a bow in his right hand and a gourd rattle in his left. In the background, five spectators are rendered in a more simplistic, faded style, grounding the traditional ritual in a contemporary social setting. The artist's signature, Mitzi Kanla, followed by the date '1983', is clearly visible in the lower right corner. The work displays excellent craftsmanship in the rendering of texture, particularly the shaggy fur of the buffalo headdress and the intricate patterns of the sash. The color palette is composed of earthy ochres and greens for the ground, contrasting with the stark black, white, and red of the dancer's attire. The painting is housed under glass in a professional frame with a thin red inner mat that complements the hues within the artwork. The condition appears to be excellent with no visible foxing, water damage, or fading of the pigments, though it has not been examined outside of the frame.