Painting of a young black bear that I saw in Kootenay National Park, British Columbia, Canada. This is the second in a series of works about this bear titled Homage to Vincent - a reference to both the Great Vincent van Gogh and a little black bear I once killed in a traffic accident.

This bear had a chest blaze, which is a white and copper streak on his chest. He also had an uncommon amount of copper in his face. I’ve seen numerous black bears, and his colouring made him unique.

I believe this bear was approximately two years old, and recently separated from his mother. He (or she?) had a young face with big fluffy hair, both signs of youth. He also had a scar on his face that I did not paint in. It was faint and well healed over, making it difficult to see. Considering his young age at the time, that scar would be indicative of some drama he faced very early in his life. As visible in the 1st painting of this series, Vincent Listening, he was very attentive to a noise in the bushes behind him. In this painting you can see that his left ear continues to listen to those bushes. He never takes his attention away from that noise. I am visible to him from across 2 lanes of highway, as is the occasional car passing by. Vincent is not concerned with me, nor the traffic - but he is concerned with that elusive noise.

The look in Vincent’s eyes is a glimpse into his life. He is alone in the world, as bears live solitary lives. Continually worried, even while he takes a moment of relaxation, he is aware of the dangers in the world around him.

Please note:
1. This work is finished with five layers of varnish to protect it from UV light and dust.
2. The work does not come framed, but the edges are both painted white and varnished.
3. A wire is pre-installed and the work is ready to hang.
4. My signature appears on the front of the work and my Certificate of Authenticity is included.