Portrait of a Bear

After Winter Bear connected with so many people, I found myself wanting to take those bold, expressive colors somewhere new. Portrait of a Bear, completed in 2025, was my answer to that. I kept the vibrant palette: the golds, the deep blues, the rich burnt ambers, but this time I paired it with more realism and dramatic lighting.

I wanted to create something that felt truly regal. Not a bear in a scene or a moment, just the bear himself, commanding your full attention. I stripped away the landscape, darkened the background to that deep cobalt, and let the light fall on him like a spotlight.

For me this was always about capturing the dignity and intelligence in his eyes; the sense that he's been here longer than we have and he knows it. 

This painting grew directly out of my love for Winter Bear. I wanted to take those joyful colors and push them into something more dramatic) and powerful. I'm so proud of how he turned out.  I hope when people  look at him they feel that quiet, unshakeable presence.