Miles to Go

No other animal inspires me more than the wolf, probably because it has survived the aggressive behavior of man so well. Symbolized in many legends and stories, the wolf’s unfavorable reputation is undeserved. It is probably the most efficient hunter in the animal kingdom, rather than a wanton killer that attacks at random. For this wolf painting, it was evident to me that the background should be snow. It didn’t allow me to paint my much beloved lichens, but it created the challenge of painting some very icy cold textures. A cold, misty night can create a white fairy tale landscape in the morning sun. It can dress the scenery with a wonderful glittering ice cover, and that is what I wanted for my background. I wanted some variation in the color of the wolves, from light to dark, which often happens in wolf packs. This gave the painting a good balance. In order to be able to paint their feet, I let them walk through a thin layer of snow. The tracks are not deep and add a nice detail in the painting. Wolves often have to travel many miles, especially in winter, to have a successful hunt. But I chose this title mainly because as a species, there are still many obstacles standing in the way of their survival.