Watching You

"Watching You"

30" x 40" Oil on Hand-dyed cotton fabric on gallery-wrapped canvas

copyright 2013 Katy Widger

 



This is another painting on hand-dyed fabric from my days as a quilt artist.  The Mexican Gray Wolf is a resident of Wildlife West Nature Park in Edgewood, NM.
The aspens and lupines were not a part of the original photo, and do not exist in this particularly dry area of New Mexico, but I added them for artistic effect, and because they do exist in the Mexican Gray Wolf's native environment in the high mountains of the Gila Wilderness in southern New Mexico.  And, hopefully, in his future natural environment.
This particular wolf followed me at a pretty close range as we exited their enclosure, and I turned and grabbed a quick photo when alerted to his presence by my husband.
His stance:  tail lowered, ears erect and forward, gaze open and steady, suggests extreme curiosity and confidence, but is not threatening nor challenging.  He was simply watching me.  And now, watching you.  Perhaps he is waiting, also, for his chance at freedom.

Mexican Gray Wolf #1

I've been wanting to paint wolves for a while now, at least a year or two. I've been waiting for the time, and some good reference photos. And opportunities to actually see wolves, up close and in person. Wild Life West, a rescue park for native animals that can no longer be released, had several Gray Wolves for a while, but not Mexican Gray Wolves, until a pack of three brothers came to live out their lives there. They were born on the Armendaris Ranch in SW New Mexico. One of Ted Turner's vast holdings in New Mexico. They were to be released in the Mexican Gray Wolf Recovery Program, but one of the wolves, in spite of best attempts by the keepers, just became too friendly with humans. In fact, I'm sure it was the same wolf who gave me several magnificent "play bows" (or perhaps they were challenges!)  on the day we went to photograph them. We were allowed to go inside their enclosure, and once settled in, the three brothers ventured closer and closer, circling us back and forth. My husband got some great photos and I just absorbed their beauty and wildness, still very much apparent, even though they are captive born and will be captive all their lives. There are only 50 Mexican Gray Wolves, also known as Lobos, left in the wild. They are on the very edge of extinction. I am hoping that the paintings I plan to do in the coming year(s) will assist with fund raising to help insure their recovery. I'll have prints and greeting cards available soon, if you're interested. This painting is 9" x 12", oil on board, and will be available for sale soon for $365.00 If you're interested, please contact me.