A Profound Greatness

When I think about the Canadian Arctic, the first two things that come to mind are the Northern Lights and Polar Bears. I recently experienced watching the Northern Lights for the first time in my adult life, despite having grown up here. I was in complete awe, watching the lights dance across the night sky; seeing the phenomenon with my own eyes, wrapped in the arms of my partner, was one of the most profound experiences of my life, and was a feeling I wanted to bring to this piece.  As I painted, I imagined how amazing it would be, to witness a polar bear, the most dangerous bear to humans in the world, walking across the tundra, with the lights dancing overhead. 

Polar bears are an important symbol in Canada, not only as an iconic symbol, but for their significance in Indigenous culture and spirituality. Polar bears symbolize strength, adaptability, intelligence, resilience and respect.

A piece in the Animals of the Canadian Arctic series

Size: 11 x 14 (inches)
Medium: Mixed Media and Oil
Surface: Gallery Wrapped Canvas