Based on Admiralty Island located in the Kootznoowoo Wilderness. The indigenous Tlingit tribe of southeastern Alaska named this area Kootznoowoo, meaning "Fortress of the Bears." I was awarded an artist residency from the US Forest Service to spend a week here immersed in the highest concentration of brown bears in the world, with an estimated 1,600 on the small island.

Being from Alaska it was not my first time seeing a brown bear in the wild. It was a first to be surrounded by them while trying to sketch and photograph my experience at Pack Creek. When you are present here there is no doubt that is an incredibly special, magical place. As I studied the bears clamming, fishing, playing, and my favorite snorkeling for fish in front of me there were others grazing the fields to my sides and behind. There was anywhere from 1-15 brown bears surrounding me while I was on Admiralty Island. The rangers have names for each bear and their story to go with them. I became enchanted with these bears and their stories. My favorites being “Patches” an older female who has had many cubs over the years and a sub adult named Socks who had lighter feet and liked to come kick it by me while I painted.

One day while hiking on the trail back to the river outlook, I came around a blind corner to a cub and mama bear eating berries. The cub was in between us and I was about about 20 feet from mama. My heart was pounding! The cub quickly ran in front of her, she turned and looked at me, than turned right back around and kept eating her berries. But she was not threatened by me, just simply use to seeing and being around humans. I will never forget this experience and how special this place is.

"Fortress of the Bears" is exactly what it felt like there and that is what I named this piece. It is a reflection of what this area felt like to me.

PAPER PRINTS

• Printed with professional grade Canon printers

• Printed using archival pigment inks

• All prints are signed

• Packaging: Art is placed in a clear sleeve to provide protection during shipping and then carefully tucked in a package reinforced with cardboard for rigidity.

• Shipping: Please allow up to 5 days for printing of paper prints and packaging before mailing.

METAL PRINTS

• Heated inks fuse into coated aluminum for vibrant, life-like images

• Gloss finish that is easy to wipe clean

• 3/4" Deep Inset Frame

• Ready to hang with a virtual signature included

• Metal prints can take up to 2-3 weeks

CANVAS PRINTS

• Museum-quality with archival inks & premium heavyweight canvas

• Wrapped tightly around 1 ½" thick wooden stretcher bars

• Ready to hang with a virtual signature included

• Canvas prints can take up to 2-3 weeks