Grace Under Pressure

“Most wolf pups are born with blue eyes. When they are between two and four months old, the color will change over to the yellow-gold color of their mother’s eyes. By six months, the pups will be nearly her size,” Bonnie Marris tells us. “The pack to which she belongs will share in the feeding and caring of this litter, but most of the time they will be hers to contend with.

“Wolf pups love to play. They will chase and wrestle with each other just as puppy dogs do. As is often the case in the wild, many of their games appear to be practice for the things they will do as adult wolves. When they are not wrestling with each other, any object becomes fair game for ‘the hunt.' Sticks, feathers, bones or even their mother’s tail is prey to be stalked and captured in the safety of their deep wood rendezvous site.”

A degree in zoology sets Bonnie apart from many wildlife artists. Her understanding of animal anatomy and training in field research gives her an edge when it comes to developing and executing a painting. But she will be the first to say that is not the true secret to creating a great painting. “There must be a passion about what you are painting that’s so strong it’s an obsession. A painter misses the mark when there’s technical skill and knowledge but no life. The animals must come alive.”