Just finished this 48”x48” spirit bear and I couldn’t be happier with how it came together.

Spirit bears aren’t a separate species of bear. They’re actually black bears that carry a rare recessive gene that gives them their creamy white coat. They’re found almost exclusively on the central coast of British Columbia, making them one of the rarest bears in the world. Some estimates suggest only a few hundred exist in the wild.

I wanted this painting to capture that feeling of rarity and presence. The warm light, reflections, and bold colours were all meant to draw your eye back to the bear and remind us how special these animals really are.

One of my favourite things about painting wildlife is learning about the subjects along the way. The more I read about spirit bears, the more I understand why they’re such an important symbol of the BC coast.

Now comes the hard part… letting this one leave the studio.

What do you think?

#jordanperkinsart #spiritbear #bearart #britishcolumbia #wildlifeart