Bear 10 - Remember your Joy - Original Art - 148 Bears Project
Bear #10 in the 148 Bears Project.
Each bear in this project is either based on a real bear in the rescue we work with, or based on the empowerment of a bear.
Remembering your joy.
Bears are a lot of things. They can be intimidating, they are wild, they are fierce, they can be all business. But one of the things that draws me to them the most is their pure joy. Watching a mama bear play with her cubs and the way they splash in the water and bask in the sun and learn through play....pure joy.
One of the most peaceful images to me is the way a mama grizzly will sit in the sun, just taking it in and lounging and napping, while her cubs fight in a ball of little fury only a few feet away. If action is needed, she will change instantly into one of the most intimidating creatures in the world, but for now she lets the sun hit her nose, closes her eyes a little and just takes in the day. Live for the moments, she says, because things will change, but right now is bliss.
For more on the project read below.
Welcome to the 148 Bear project. It’s an odd number right? In 2017 a bear I had grown quite attached to, called Bear 148, was shot by a hunter after a relocation to BC. She had gained quite a lot of notoriety for her familiarity with humans in the parks, roaming around Canmore and Banff, watching sports be played in the soccer fields. She had hundreds, literally hundreds of interactions with humans that were non-threatening, and was shipped off and then hunted. In my opinion Bear 148 is a symbol for our failure to interact with bears in any other way other than as a threat or as waste. Grizzlies are gorgeous, powerful creatures, and deserve to share the forests and land with both the respect and admiration that is due to them. I will be painting 148 bears, from Black to Spirit to Grizzly to Polar bear, because I feel like all these creatures speak to the critical state humanity has reached, regarding having a life of connection with the other creatures that bless us with their presence on this planet. Bear 148 was a gorgeous and peaceful bear, and she will be the 148th painting in this process.
This beautiful painting is a lovely small 12" x 12" with a 1.5" gallery canvas edge. It is a wood based canvas, painted with a thick mix of acrylic, gesso, and uv gloss to create that beautiful bold depth and captivating colour blends. This piece -although gorgeous in photo - is still far more remarkable to behold in person.
**Original Art is priced with Shipping and handling included anywhere in North America. If you are International please message the team at erin@greenanimalproject.com to get pricing beforehand.