The Hunter – Fine Art Print

Description

My neighbor had a wolf-dog.

This was a neighbor who we didn’t see a lot. My mom had to drop something off at our neighbor’s house. She was an older lady and had a high, chain-link fence, which I thought was unusual in front of a house, even in my preteen mind. The neighbor–and my mom–stressed not climbing or getting near the fence (as if my sisters and I could West-Side-Story up an eight-foot fence…look it up). The lady’s dog looked fine, I thought as I glanced at it.

But then, as my mom handed the package she had through an opening in the fence to the lady, I looked at the ‘dog’ again; it was a ‘dog’, the lady explained, which was a cross between a dog and a wolf. Even in my young mind, I could see nothing but the wolf from that moment on. The wolf dog sat still, about six feet beyond the fence, his eyes locked on my frame.

Yes, he was an absolute predator. If I hadn’t been warned, I would have done what I did with every dog: walked up, held out my hand and waited for the requisite sniff. In this case, I may have pulled back less than I’d put out…If I hadn’t been warned.
I was fascinated by the wild animal, but grateful for that fence.
Warnings and boundaries are there for a reason. A lot of times, it’s not ‘cool’ or freeing to breach them.

This painting was sitting in my head for a long time. In case you haven’t noticed, it’s not just a portrait of a wolf. It’s a hunter. A predator. Reflected in his eyes is an innocent lamb who is close enough to be in danger.

Things are getting weird in this world. Wars and rumors of wars. Earthquakes in various places. Sometimes we can feel like we’re close enough to danger to be reflected in its eyes. But there is hope.

“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves…” – Matthew 10:16. “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” – Hebrews 13:5

All pieces are unframed unless otherwise noted. 12 x 16 x 1.5″ acrylic on nested birch panel.