This painting comes from my series titled "Ableze", a Native American term which means "to realize". All the artwork I create is meant to encourage respect for these powerful creatures; a respect which has been lost in modern cultures and societies, and replaced with greed. My work draws attention to the current environmental threats that endangered species are facing. I represent these species the way I see them; as works of art themselves. My paintings are formed around their "portraits" and are composed to encourage the viewer to reconsider their relationship to the animal and its current situation.
My work conveys a sense of protection. They have been given a safe environment between the confines of a canvas, where no one else can enter. They are in their own space, where we can only stand from a distance and observe.
See more wonderful work at www.sarahsmithart.com