Arcturus

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 8th of 10 polar bear paintings in my series of polar bear minis. Continuing with my star naming theme, “Arcturus” is the 4th brightest star in our night sky. Its name comes from an Ancient Greek word meaning “Guardian of the Bear”.

What does this painting symbolize to you? One might suggest it’s a cub or child looking up to its parent in admiration. Or, perhaps the parent is speaking words of wisdom and love to its child. I think this could also represent a relationship between a student and teacher/mentor: someone needing direction, listening to those who can provide guidance on how to move forward. The reflective light and stars around them represent their positive energy and outcomes.

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