PAINTING STORY:
After seeing the documentary, "Earth", I was
truly inspired and emotionally committed to
painting a polar bear in his habitat.
Like many, I had seen paintings of polar bears
depicted in a snow and icy background but
my desire was to paint the subject in a
Churchill Manitoba setting.
I have enjoyed painting twigs, grass and rocks,
so Churchill Manitoba scenery
was attractive and enticing.
I deliberately painted a mother with only one cub
to emphasize the effects that the climate
changes have on polar bears.
In optimal conditions, it is usual for a polar bear
to give birth to up to three cubs. Recently,
however, we have seen dramatic changes in
the number of births due to the hostile
environments. This portrayal of the mother
and cub is representative of what a mother
has to do to protect her only living cub as well as
serve as a reminder to next generations to
respect and protect these magnificent
white giants of our cold lands.
How can one resist the love in the eyes
of the cub begging for protection?
We all need to take action.

Denis Mayer, September 2009