Archernar

12x12" Mixed Media/Oil on professional grade gallery wrapped canvas, 1 1/2" depth

You're also adopting a polar bear! As a special thank you to the collector, I will use a portion of the proceeds from the purchase of this original painting to symbolically adopt a polar bear in your honor via a donation to a polar bear conservation organization. Your official adoption certificate will be included in your original polar bear painting shipment. For more info and to get involved further, please visit www.polarbearsinternational.org

This is the 6th of 10 polar bear paintings in my series of polar bear minis. Continuing with my star naming theme, “Archernar” is the 9th brightest star in the night sky. Its name comes from an Arabic word meaning “The End of the River”.

I’ve learned from both my schooling and experience that one’s interpretation of the meaning of a piece of art tends to differ from others’. A person’s current phase of life, past experiences, future goals, or current mood can influence what a painting means to them. This painting is unique from the others in my polar bear series in the process used to paint it. For me, I also feel it’s the only one of the 10 that I continued to have different interpretations of it as I painted it and since I completed it. I’ve felt everything from sadness, to possibility, to strength.

I am really drawn to polar bears. They symbolize strength & courage, and can serve as a reminder of thriving in environments that might be hostile to others. This inspires me to push through the challenges I face and reminds me of the times I overcame challenges in the past. In painting them, I hope to inspire others to do the same.

I named all 10 of the paintings in this series after the 10 brightest stars, as several of them have some element of stars, galaxies, or nebulas. These things are great sources of inspiration for me as well. They’re beautiful, mysterious, and make me think of “possibility”, as they are a reminder of how we are a tiny speck in a vast universe.

Specifications:

• Artist-grade oil paint used for intense color, depth, and longevity
• Heavy duty, archival-quality natural cotton canvas, gallery wrapped on a professionally-constructed frame using 1.5" profile kiln-dried stretcher bars
• Varnished with Gamvar gloss varnish by Gamblin for long-lasting protection
• Sides of the canvas have been finished with either a continuation of the painting or a solid color to complement the painting
• Mounting hardware included, ready to hang
• Artist signature will be included on the front of the painting
• Artist signature, date, and painting title will be included on the back of the painting
• An artist-signed Certificate of Authenticity will accompany the artwork
• Payment plans available - refer to FAQ page for details