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.