"BEAR HEART"---This piece is named after a young boy who was called home in 2015 after a valiant & hard ordeal with cancer. His name is Bear Heart. He was 5 years old. He was also a twin.
I lost my wife to cancer May 1, 2018. As families walk the cancer road with their loved ones we learn things along the way. One of those things we learn are things don't happen by coincidence or just by circumstance. Things happen providentially. Things happen for a reason and sometimes those reasons are kept from us only to be revealed at another time.

I use this piece as a testament to that lesson learned, things happen providentially.
This piece would not have been possible without someone requesting a bear theme art piece for her husband. Her husband identifies with the bear. In native culture the bear is a symbol of strength, healing and leadership.

I wanted to do a bear piece for some time but always started something else instead.

As this piece was coming together, I didn't have a title for it and I was thinking long and hard about the title but the names I was thinking about didn't stand out.

It wasn't until I showed this piece to a friend and she said it reminded her of one of her family members. She told me his name was Bear Heart.

With permission and with great honor I respectfully named this piece after that young boy who was called home, BEAR HEART.

This name fits most perfectly for this piece. Sometimes life seems most difficult and dire. It's in those moments we think we don't have the strength to keep going. We become afraid and scared. But something compels us to not give up. To stay the course. An inner voice assures us the strength to keep going has been inside us all along. We just need to trust that it's there

  • Fade-resistant
  • 20.5 mil thick poly-cotton blend canvas
  • Hand-stretched over solid wood stretcher bars
  • Matte finish coating
Size:
  • 16x16