Ice Bear

Ice BearAcrylic on canvas painting of the arctic polar bear that measures 48 x 36 inches and was completed in 2021. There are many names for the polar bear including Ursus Maritimus which is the Latin for Maritime Bear due to the animal's native habitat. The Inuit refer to the bear as nanook (nanuq) and the Siberian Yupik also refer to the bear as nanuuk. Other names for the polar bear are: ice bear, white bear, sea bear, the old man in the fur cloak and many

Acrylic on canvas painting of the arctic polar bear that measures 48 x 36 inches and was completed in 2021. There are many names for the polar bear including Ursus Maritimus which is the Latin for Maritime Bear due to the animal's native habitat.  The Inuit refer to the bear as nanook (nanuq) and the Siberian Yupik also refer to the bear as nanuuk. Other names for the polar bear are: ice bear, white bear, sea bear, the old man in the fur cloak and many more.

Read the artist statement about the painting below:

"About 10 years ago well-known naturalist, biologist, polar bear researcher and friend Chuck Jonkel proposed I should paint a polar bear. I promised him I would. I produced some sketches but then got busy with other commissions and exhibitions. Sadly, Chuck passed away before I could get the painting done.

I wanted to complete it in his memory but with my interpretation. Chuck was a scientist but was also an environmentalist and deeply involved with American indigenous tribal members and the great significance bears hold in their stories and myths.

I made this painting with the awareness and immediacy of climate change. The displacement and habitat loss of animals is occurring not only in the Arctic but also globally. I sought to include that concept in my painting of the polar bear voyaging into the sunset of a changing landscape as the arctic melts away.

After initial sketches I then made a small 7 x 5 watercolor study, followed with a 12 x 9 acrylic painting based on the study. I worked on the large version over the course of 3 or 4 years. It was on and off my easel many times.

Chuck finally has his bear." Monte Dolack August 2021

The painting is not yet framed-allowing the collector to choose their own frame but the 2 inch deep sides of the canvas are painted allowing it to be displayed without a frame. Free shipping on this painting.