Professional illustrator and historical figure who shaped American identity, Walton Ford describes his own work as "nasty underground cartoons" (Ford; PBS). The painting titled Tur is located on the third floor of the Smithsonian Museum. This three-part watercolor depicts prehistoric and extinct Aurochs. This large mammal was often confused with the bison. By law, they were only to be hunted by royalty. Tur, the Polish translation of Aurochs, is the reincarnation from the imagination of German scientists. Aurochs symbolize the superior control of the Soviet Union during World War II. Ford recreates his paintings in a style directly reminiscent of the paintings of John James Audubon. Similar to Audubon, Ford's includes field notes, although it subtly alludes to the dark background of his paintings. Walton Ford was born in 1960 in Larchmont, New York. Ford inherited his artistic genes from his father, Enfield Berry Ford, also known as Flicky, who attended the Art Students League. His father wanted to become a cartoonist but ended up becoming art director of Life magazine in New York. Ford was quoted as saying: “He was a big personality, a big drinker, a womanizer and a wild man…. It was quite difficult to be there when I was a teenager” (Cohen). He is no stranger to difficulties and the darker sides of life and his fatherless past has helped create the lens through which he looks when composing his paintings. From a young age, the artist felt excluded from nature and his only connection to wildlife was through the Natural History Museum and his uncle's house, filled with taxidermy. His parents were divorced and his father suffered from alcoholism. His difficult childhood forced Walton Ford to find humor in a difficult environment...... middle of paper ...... cover of the Rolling Stones' greatest hits album, GRRR! which commemorated the group's 50th anniversary. He is held in high esteem because of his drive to become a leading artist and his work over the years has demonstrated his true passion for the arts. Works Cited “Art in the 21st Century, Season 2 (2003). » Art in the 21st century, season 2. Art 21 Inc. PBS, 2003. PBS.com. Internet. April 2, 2014. .Cohen, David. “Back to basics: painters Walton Ford and Neo Rauch.” Nysun.com. The New York Sun, May 22, 2008. Web. April 2, 2014. .Williams, Raymond. 1976. Keywords: A vocabulary of culture and society. London: Fontana, 1988. ISBN 0-00-686150-4. “Walton Ford (American, 1960). » Walton Ford on Artnet. Www.Artnet.com, 2014. Web. May 12 2014.