CHARACTER DESIGN — ‘Cole Fasthorse-Stuggy’.
"Scavenger, outlier of the pack.”

This is the second part of two matching pieces, the first piece being ‘Black Fox’, of Cole’s wife Inola.
Instead of a fox skull, Cole has a coyote. Coyotes are symbolic of death and rebirth, but also of adaptability and survival. Typically coyotes are pack animals, and don’t pose a large threat to humans being cautious and skittish by nature. However, when alone and outcast from their packs, they can quickly become more hostile and aggressive which is indicative of Cole’s initial cautious and standoffish demeanour. Whilst both pieces reference past choices and rebirth, Cole’s piece leans more into the idea that though you may close chapters of your life and begin anew, without confronting who you are, you will always be married to your nature.

The colours behind him are chosen to represent a sunset. To represent a day ending, and chapters closing. His flowers are daisies, which are burial flowers, but they also represent rebirth and renewal.

Whilst he is the day’s end, Inola’s colours in her piece represent the approaching night, linking the characters together. One is the sun, and one the moon, reliant upon the other to survive, and always thought of in tandem together.

Cole’s coyote skull is open, teeth shown, signifying an internal battle between who he is, and who he wishes to be.