FROM WHERE I PAINT

I paint for two reasons:

I am fascinated by the relationships in nature. To me they are founded in mathematics. Color to color. Light to dark. Line to line. Form to form.

My quest is to come closer and closer to understanding the subtleties of our world. I think these mathematic subtleties equate to what we perceive as visual beauty. 

We are all connected first by our very existence and then by our senses. Through the visual medium of art I share my responses to the things I find beautiful.   If the viewer is touched intuitively, and feels the same response, then we have connected.

WHY NOW BEARS?

I do not know exactly when it happened, but I suspect that it was about a year ago when I looked into the face of a bear at close range.

My friend, Amy, raises cubs. When I saw that, as toddlers, they relied on her in the same way human children rely on their mothers I knew that there were common emotions that bears share with us. When she picked them up they were comforted. The ones left not picked up cried and whined desperately. When she reprimanded them they felt safe in knowing the limits.

Then I looked at the adult bears interacting. Yes, I saw things that we regard as primitive and self protective. But I also saw behaviors, and agendas that were beyond food and shelter. Where is the line between their basic physical needs and their emotions? Do they fulfill emotional needs in each other?

I cannot answer that.

They play with each other. They claim dominance in situations. They love marshmallows. 

I only know that when I observe bears I see, in the mirror, all of us.

I hope that you do as well.