4 Wolves

I actually had this painting completed back in July, but I couldn’t put it up on the site until now since it was for a surprise birthday party, and, through 6 degrees of separation, had to keep it under lock and key just in case the recipient happened to wander in here.

This painting was specifically commissioned by Linda McCue for her husband Chris to represent all the impenetrable qualities he shares with The Wolf. In many native cultures, the Wolf is known as The Pathfinder. It embodies a strong sense of self, strength, instinct, success, perseverance, movement, and is an intuitive problem solver. The Wolf is a teacher of new ideas that provides stability and support that one normally associates with a family structure. They are sleek, daring and wise, yet very misunderstood creatures.

The main essence behind this painting is in reverence to Chris’s weighty embrace of life, love and spirit. Chris is extremely passionate about the outdoors and loves spending his free time mountain biking and skiing (always moving, like the wolf). The small border in a circular shape around the 4 wolves not only represents his mountain bike tire, but his love for travel and culture. The 4 triangular points at the edge just off the circle are his ski tips, for his love of the mountains and skiing. The Haida Sun is in the middle of the painting, shining its warmth, energy, approval and grace upon the wolves, and Chris’s life.

The main border of the painting is a variation I’ve done of a Wolf paw print, but in a more African theme, for Chris’s love of African art, much of which adorns his home. This represents tracking and movement (again, somewhat of a homage to his passion for biking and movement).

Wolves mate for life, so one of the other reasons I chose the Wolf for Chris, was in reverence to his marriage, life long commitment, and undying love with Linda.

This past summer I was pretty busy and usually had 3 or 4 paintings on the go at any moment, so I didn’t really get a chance to make up individual playlists for each painting. So, I’ve lopped most of the summer’s paintings into one evolving playlist. However my latest downloads on my iPod were what was on when I did paint to music:

  • See Right Through Me – Mobile (Tomorrow Starts Today)
  • Silicon Zion – 808funk (Moments)
  • The World Goes Around – 808funk (Moments)
  • Into The Dark – Ferry Corsten (L.E.F.)
  • Hasn’t Hit Me Yet – Blue Rodeo (Five Days in July)
  • Bedshaped – Keane (Hopes and Fears)
  • Nothing in my way – Keane (Under the Iron Sea)
  • Hamburg Song – Keane (Under the Iron Sea)
  • Try Again – Keane (Under the Iron Sea)
  • Let it slide – Keane (Under the Iron Sea)
  • Moonchild – M83 (Before the dawn Heals Us)
  • If You Tolerate This Then Your Children Will Be Next – Manic Street Preachers (This Is My Truth Tell Tell Me Yours)
  • Tsunami – Manic Street Preachers (This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours)

4 Wolves
Calgary, Alberta / September 2006 / 18″ x 18″