Artist Daniel Smith Paints a Grizzly Bear’s Hunt

Kodiak Collaboration by Artist Daniel Smith

He moves through the water smoothly, claws ready and determination set on his face.  The gulls wait patiently off to the side, careful not to get in his way, yet anxious for the scraps of leftovers they will be receiving shortly.  The salmon swim on, oblivious to his approach.

“The annual salmon run attracts a multitude of wildlife. Grizzly bears feast on salmon as opportunistic gulls function as the cleanup crew. The complexity and efficiency of Mother Nature continues to amaze me. Watching bears feeding alternates between intense activity and calm moments. I don’t know if they can smell the salmon when they arrive or if they sense some other change, but once they become aware of it, when one bear goes out, they all go out. I’m very fortunate and blessed to refer to these experiences as ‘part of my job.’” – Daniel Smith

Facts you may not know about grizzly bears:

• Although it is considered a meat-eater, the grizzly bear is actually omnivorous, which means it eats both meat and vegetation.  Plants make up 80 to 90 percent of the grizzly’s diet!
• Despite its large size, the grizzly bear has been known to run at speeds of 55 km per hour.
• The average lifespan of a grizzly bear is approximately 20 years!

About the Artist:

Artist Daniel Smith

Daniel Smith is recognized as simply one of the best wildlife artists today. Over the last decade, Smith’s original pieces have been exhibited at, or become part of permanent collections at the Eiteljorg, the Autry, the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, the National Museum of Wildlife Art, the Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum, the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, The Bennington Center for the Arts, The Wildlife Experience, The Leanin Tree Museum of Western Art and the Ella Sharp Museum of Art and History.

© Rollie LaMarche – Come visit my site to learn more about art, artists and picture framing.