The inspiration for these two pieces came from the Many Glacier area of Glacier National Park. This was my first time at this amazing place, and I truly hit a wildlife jackpot! I was on a grizzly bear quest, and was seeing pretty much every other species but the elusive bruin. Of course EVERYONE I encountered in the park seemed to have "just seen one"! With my adventure nearing its end, the search intensified. Driving slower and scanning the landscape with more scrutiny, I knew this would be the day! With piercing evening light filtering through, a stand of aspens took on a life of their own. It was here I encountered the unmistakable silhouettes of a cow moose and her yearling calf. She only warily tolerated my presence, and not for very long. But the mold was set, this would definitely be painted.
Obviously this scene morphed into two very diferent scenarios. The cow became a bull, and the bear is actually from Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The main thrust remains the same, a very impressive creature practically absorbed by its environment, the omnipresent light filtering "through the aspens". |
