POLAR ATTRACTION by Greg Beecham. Polar bears. Ursus maritimus.

 

Greg’s artistic approaches are as varied as the wildlife he portrays, so when he told us The Cascades would be followed up by another bear portrait, we knew it would be distinctly different. The title Polar Attraction suggests courtship, but as Greg explains, “these polar bears have a strictly platonic relationship. They’re siblings enjoying some gentle sparring to keep up their strength for the season of hunting ahead. It was a challenge to work ‘wet on wet,’ making a transition from the cool colors below ultimately to the warm ones on top. I also wanted to achieve a color harmony between the background and the focal point, helping to convey the scene’s peaceful, playful mood.” Published from the artist’s original oil painting.

 

Print released 2000.