Here's Freedom Bear (Green Ribbon ), February's Painting of The Month Special

I had difficulty deciding which of my paintings to offer for this month’s special, All the polar bears in my paintings are doing their grand polar bear thing, but their vulnerability to climate change is always lying there somewhere under the surface. It’s a worry, isnt it?

And January was long enough.

But this little bear oil painting, painted with a little more spontaneity than is my usual after I had just completed a series, exudes that freedom I felt. No pressure to create, it was just for fun. I think it’s one of the happiest paintings, the brushstrokes are free and confident and that brightness and lightness of spirit shines through. Don’t you think so, too?

Freedom Bear (Green Ribbon)

Regular price $300

Special $250

Shipping free to Canada & USA. Prices are in Canadian dollars.

Valid until February 28, 11:59 pm EST

This painting was originally called Green Ribbon ( the stylized northern lights in the background) but I have since renamed it Freedom Bear.

Because polar bears certainly are symbols of living free aren’t they?! In Freedom Bear, we see a happy looking polar bear on its solitary journey through the arctic night. The northern lights, fluttering like a lime green ribbon, light his way.

As with all my polar bear art, this is created in in tribute to the beautiful polar bear, the Arctic and to raise awareness of the vulnerability of both to climate change.

The painting is signed in front, and has a unique work completion number on the back. It is wired and ready to hang. The painting continues around the edge to give a nicely finished look. A Certificate of Authenticity is supplied.

It is 12” wide x 6” high x .75”deep oil painting on canvas

Close up of Freedom Bear

Freedom Bear in my Studio

Freedom Bear on the wall.

Wishing You All the Best For What Lies Ahead

Happy New Year!

Most of you visit this site from Canada, USA and the UK. For those of us in Canada and the US , we are about to have some big changes in leadership, aren’t we, and who knows what lies ahead for us all?

What Lies Ahead just happens to be the title of the painting below.

This lovely polar bear stands on an icy peak, the aurora borealis lighting the path forward.

Our magnificent bear is smart and resilient and she will steadfastly carry on with her (or his) journey through the arctic night.

Wishing you the strength and resilience of the polar bear & much hope, good health and safe travel in your 2025 journey!

A Little Bit More About What Lies Ahead

This is a 12” x 12” by 1.5” acrylic painting on canvas.

The portrait and northern lights are painted using metallic acrylic paints. The brightness symbolizes the stunning northern lights.

The edges of the painting are red. This symbolizes our love for the bear, the arctic, nature and our lifeline connection to it all. It is part of the Wonder and Warning Series.

Thoughtful Reflections

Art that Inspires

One of the great joys of being an artist who sells online, is that I actually get to have some contact with those who collect my art. Galleries are great, but most galleries keep the collectors names to themselves (rightfully so as their mailing list is their business). It is always a pleasant surprise when I receive a collector’s thoughts on why they purchased one of my polar bear paintings or receive a photo of the painting in situ in their home.

Recently I received these thoughtful reflections from a first time collector of my art that I think capture a lot of what I try to say with my painting. I am not bilingual, but these comments were written to me in French and so I wanted to include them in the language written.

Do you see what this person sees in my art? Id love to know in the comments below.

Reverence 1 ©Christine Montague. 12” x 12” oil painting. Private collection.

Reverence 1:   

It calls me to live with love and gentleness for others, because I do not know what they are going through, but everyone needs to feel respected, recognized, and loved. The beauty of the sky in the background gives me hope for a new day that dawns with the determination to do my part to stop the deterioration of the natural world and maintain hope for a better world since despair and resignation cannot benefits only those who exploit the world and others.

Elle m’appelle à vivre avec amour et douceur pour autrui, car je ne sais pas ce qu’ils vivent, par compte tous ont besoin de se sentir respecter, reconnue, et aimer. La beauté du ciel en arrière plan me donne l’espérance d’un jour nouveau qui se lève avec la determination de faire ma part pour cesser la détérioration du monde naturelle et garder l’espérance pour un monde meilleur puisque le désespoir et la résignation ne bénéficie que ceux qui exploite le monde et l’autrui. 

- F. D. Vancouver, B.C., Canada

Reverence 3. ©Christine Montague. 12” x 12” oil painting. Private collection.

Reverence 3:

I feel a lot of the same emotions with this piece, and by juxtaposing them I see the same bear, but in a different state. Sometimes I interpret his roar symbolizing anger towards an environment that is malicious, unhealthy, aggressive, and hostile. Sometimes it seems to me like a cry of anguish, not knowing how else to respond to this new world. A world dedicated to destroying its existence.

Je ressent beaucoup des mêmes émotions avec cette pièce, et en les juxtaposant je vois le même ours, mais dans un état différent. Des fois j’interprète son rugissement symbolisant une colère envers un environnement qui lui est malveillant, malsain, agressif, et hostile. Des fois ça me semble un cri d’angoisse, ne sachant pas comment répondre à ce nouveau monde autrement. Un monde vouer à détruire son existence. 

- F.D. Vancouver, B.C., Canada

If you enjoy my Reverence Series, there are other square foot paintings still available in the series. You can peruse these polar bear and northern lights paintings in Shop Original Art.

Detail - Reverence 2. See the complete painting here.

The Polar Bear Life Preserver

Polar Bear Life Preserver

The intrepid polar bear, backlit by the northern lights, is perched upon a circular ice floe. There isn't much room, but not to worry, this marine mammal is a powerful swimmer.

The real question is how much sea ice will our bear find located out past the picture frame? It is the frozen sea that the polar bear depends upon for travel, hunting, food and shelter. It is the frozen sea that is the life preserver for our beautiful bear.

12" x 12" x 1.5" oil painting on canvas

Edges are painted black. Wired, ready to hang. Certificate of Authenticity supplied.

$350 CAD. Free shipping to Canada and USA.

Please contact me.

Polar Bear Life Preserver ©Christine Montague