There's no need for the subtlety of camouflage to enhance the storyline of this painting, the meaning is clear: the time for talking is over. "Beyond Negotiations is one of a few action pieces that I've created," says the artist. "I had a lot of fun with gestures, facial expressions and creating a sense of depth and dust. Containing the charging Indians within a long horizontal border was not an option. This image sums up the results of all the negotiations leading up to the present moment (whatever they may have been!) The fact that the image is bursting at the seams helps to emphasize the immediacy of the warriors' obvious negative response to the last proposal." The original artwork for Beyond Negotiations is not only Bev's first acrylic painting in over thirty years, but her largest ever. The piece began its life as a stone lithograph, but when Bev saw her sketch enlarged, she knew these warriors were destined to become a big painting.

Doolittle fans and collectors couldn't be happier that Bev made the decision that she has, and that her instincts about the image have proved correct. Already, demand for these editions appears to be greater than the edition sizes that have been set. Not since 1984 has a fine art edition of Bev's been sized below 8,500 pieces, so make sure you get yours before it becomes an issue Beyond Negotiations!