The Big Dipper

Acclaimed for his depictions of the natural world, Daniel Smith is one of America's foremost wildlife artists. Inspired by his surroundings in southwest Montana, Smith paints from personal experience, which gives his work striking detail and stirring realism. Attracted to predators and dangerous game, Smith has a particular affinity for big cats and bears, such as the male grizzly featured in "The Big Dipper." When researching his subject, the artist's personal mission is to create a unique composition matching the perfect combination of subject, setting and action. "Whether standing or moving through their habitat, the different behaviors of the grizzly are fascinating to watch," Smith says of "The Big Dipper." "Although my initial intention wasn't to paint a grizzly fishing for salmon, the more I watched the subject in this action the more fascinating it became as the basis for a painting."