Each of my paintings has a little piece of my life embedded in them. I don’t usually just paint something just to paint it. With Oryx in the Missile Range it is no different. In the late 1960’s they imported a species of antelope called the Oryx(Gemsbok) from Africa to New Mexico. The oryx were introduced into a place called White Sands. White Sands is an incredible place with beautiful white sand going for miles. It is also unique because the military uses a piece of this area as a missile testing range. When they introduced the oryx, they assumed that they could control the oryx population with predators, such as the mountain lion and coyote, and with hunting. To their surprise, the oryx is too large and the coyotes and mountain lions pretty much steer clear. Hunting the oryx on the missile range is a once in a life time opportunity and is very sought after. My sweet sister, has incredible luck, and her first year ever hunting she drew this tag. I painted the oryx that she harvested in my painting. However the landscape is my own creation. Where the oryx are actually hunted there is much more vegetation and less of the flowing sand dunes. White Sands National park does have the flowing dunes and is a stunning place to visit if you ever get the chance. Don’t worry the park is a different place than the missile range! In each of my paintings I also like to hide at least one thing. It is usually a small animal but it can also be other things. This painting has four hidden things. Good luck finding them! This painting is gallery wrapped and painted on the outside edges. However; if you want, it can be custom framed for no additional charge to you. Shipping for all my Original paintings is always free.