Close Encounter was inspired by an unforgettable experience while filming grizzly bears up the Toba Inlet on the coast of British Columbia in 2019. As I was filming two grizzly bear sisters approximately 600 pounders, {I was told} with a 4k video camera from a small wooden bridge. They went under the bridge approximately 20' below walking the packed dirt next to the river, so I moved to the other side to catch them and resume filming aiming where I assumed they would emerge. I was looking through the viewfinder when all of a sudden I just saw fur and I wasn't zoomed in much at all, I lowered the camera to
see they had come up the bank that supports the bridge the bigger sister was probably 30'-35' away and maybe only 5' lower than me in elevation. She was almost broadside and turned her head towards me I saw the eye with the little bit of blood in the white still had the camera down. The Native guide took a step closer to kind of get closer to the bear than me. She said "That's Really Close." I Said I was just thinking that, but I though you guys do this everyday maybe that happens sometimes. It was a bit of a startle when I saw all fur In the viewfinder,
I built this composition based on that powerful memory. Only to heighten it instead of grizzly's, I used a much bigger brown bear and made it half the distance away, but the eye ball look is very similar except the eyebrow is more irritated in this one. The bear steps quietly from the edge of the woods, meeting the viewer with the same steady gaze that stopped me filming for 15 seconds. The surrounding meadow, distant trees, and winding waterway create a peaceful setting, making the encounter feel even more unexpected. A fallen tree and the gentle curve of the shoreline naturally guide the eye back to the bear's face, while native wildflowers add a quiet touch of life to the foreground. It is a scene where beauty and danger exist side by side, reminding us that true wilderness always deserves our respect.
I designed the landscape to support the story without competing with it. The strongest detail and contrast are reserved for the bear's face, where the eyes, nose, ears, and rich fur texture become the emotional center of the painting. The body is modeled with softer transitions, while the surrounding trees, creek, and distant fields gradually recede through the atmospheric perspective. Careful placement of the fallen tree, shoreline, and foreground vegetation creates a natural visual path that continually returns the viewer to the bear's unwavering gaze, allowing them to experience the same unforgettable moment I did.
Close Encounter Original
Wildlife Painting
Oil 18" x 24"
