This pastel piece is based on a photo I took of a grizzly bear at a wildlife park. I thought it would be a cool idea to get down low to capture a unique angle of this soft, cuddly, teddy-bear-looking fellow. But the true grizzly paradox hit me when this massive, intimidating predator started coming right toward me! Even with a sturdy fence between us, looking up at an animal that size is an incredibly freaky and humbling experience. I quickly checked the barriers, hurried to get my shots, and gave him his space. Capturing his immense scale in pastels was the perfect way to relieve that adrenaline rush.

A portion from the sale of this piece will go towards MARS Wildlife Rescue in the Comox Valley, Vancouver Island, BC, Canada.