Polar Bear Art for the Ukraine

An Art Auction with Heart at Waddington’s

All Proceeds Go to The Canada-Ukraine Foundation to be used where needed most. Make a Polar Bear Yours & Help the Ukraine, too

Bidding begins … NOW until April 14th, 2022. https://www.waddingtons.ca/auction/auction-for-ukraine-apr-14-2022/gallery/lot/107/

I wanted to help in some way with my art and wasn’t sure how. When this opportunity to donate came up I jumped at the chance. All proceeds from the auction will go The Canada-Ukraine Foundation. Waddington’s is a well revered, prestigious auction house (read more here. )They are generously waiving any of the fees normally associated with an auction.

So which polar bear painting can be yours?

A Light in the Darkness is a perfect title and symbol for this cause. Goodness and hope will shine even brighter in the darkness of evil. This beautiful bear rises up out of the dark sea, to face the future with strength, intelligence and resilience. Please bid here

Please bid for this important cause! You will have the fun of bidding from the comfort of your home, the triumph of winning art at good value and helping those who need it in the Ukraine. Please bid here

THANK YOU! GOOD LUCK!

A Light in the Darkness. 12” x 12” oil painting on canvas ©Christine Montague Available through waddingtons.ca April 9 - 14, 2022. Auction to help The Canada-Ukraine Foundation. Please bid at https://www.waddingtons.ca/auction/auction-for-ukraine-apr-14-2022/gallery/lot/107/

Special Offer. Special Bear. Special Day. Special Code. International Polar Bear Day 2021 Celebration

Special Offer! Enter code POLARBEAR21 for 10% off

In celebration of International Polar Bear Day Feb. 27th, 2021 I am excited to offer my polar bear art at a special value! Valid from February 23 - Feb. 28, 2021

(Sorry, cannot be applied to custom art or portraits)

Shop for polar bear art here.

An example of savings -

In the Pink (below) Regular price is $884.96 CAD + 115.04 hst = $1000 CAD

Special price until (and incl.) February 28th, 2021 is $796.46 CAD + 103.54 hst = $900 CAD

BONUS! Free shipping to Canada.

About International Polar Bear Day

International Polar Bear Day is held annually to raise awareness of the polar bear and its vulnerability to climate change. On this day, as well as the days leading up to it, Polar Bears International, a world wide acclaimed resource of research on polar bears, offers a delightful selection of live events .

A lot of what I have learned about polar bears, I have learned from PBI, as well as from another favourite of mine the Churchill Northern Studies Centre (CNSC). I had an incredible learning adventure at the CNSC, and it was there, out on the tundra, Our Tundra Buggy actual passed Tundra Buggy One, the PBI research buggy.

As a result, I always try to commit a portion of my polar bear paintings sales to polar bear research.

In the Pink. 24” x 25” oil painting on canvas. ©ChristineMontague More info on this painting here

Polar Bear Painting of the Day - Family is Golden

Some Polar Bear Familytime.

Today’’ painting suits a Sunday morning post -

Family is Golden

Family, love, & togetherness are represented by this pink, gold and rose gold acrylic paint on wood panel.
The polar bear is an intelligent, good mother. Polar bear cubs climb all over the mama bear just as our human little ones do. Her cubs stay with her for about 30 months.

In my art gold paint represents the royalty and intelligence of the polar bears, and the richness of nature.

Crackled white paint adds to the illusion of fur in the painting, but the "cracks" also symbolize the vulnerability of this polar bear family due to climate change.

A stylized gold ribbon behind them represents the northern lights, as well as our connection to the bears.

The sides of the wood panel are painted gold. The painting is wired and ready for hanging.

24"H x 12"W x 0.75"D wood panel

Special price $500 CAD. Free shipping in Canada.

Shop here

Family is Golden. 24” x 12” ©Christine Montague wood panel.

Polar Bear Cubs- How to See the Picture

Triplets

This stylized oil painting has a climate change story to tell, and can be hung vertically or horizontally to do so. 

Hung horizontally: In my latest oil painting, Triplets, three polar bear cubs affectionately play with their mother, secure and warm in their den. It is rare that 3 cubs are born and so this is one lucky polar bear mother.

One of the cubs is in the shadows. It could be a sign of foreboding, but is more a comment of how the healthier a bear is the more likely multiple births succeed. (Recently, a Polar Bears International post mentioned a bear with three cubs was observed for the first time in five years.) 

Triplets. Hung horizontally. ©Christine Montague Oil painting. 20” x 30”

Hung vertically: The bear family’s survival is dependant on sea ice. Too early a breakup of the ice in the spring, and a delay in its formation in the fall, leaves the polar bear and cubs vulnerable to starvation, drowning and threat from male bears. 

30” x 20” x 1.5” oil painting on canvas. Edges are painted black. Wired, ready to hang. Certificate of Authenticity supplied. 

$1000 CAD Free shipping to Canada . Please contact me. 

Triplets hung vertically. 30”h x 20”w ©Christine Montague

Watch Out Racoons! Here's Dec. 23rd of the Polar Bear Art Advent Calendar

Everyday from Dec 1- 25th, a new polar bear painting is offered at a special value! (valid until Dec 31, 2020)

Polar Bear Bandit

Why a bandit? Because the polar bear, as one of the world’s most beloved animals, has stolen our hearts! A bit racoon-like (now there’s a bandit), but the halo -like moon behind, shines on this bear’s innocence. 

This is an acrylic + gold metallic acrylic painting on wood panel.The sides, however, are painted black giving the work a graphic look. The paint is slightly textured. 

Graphite, white, black & metallic gold acrylic paint

10” x 8” x .75 " wood panel.  Wired and ready to hang.

Special offer until Dec. 31, 2020

Reg. $260 CAD. NOW $130 CAD incl. shipping to Canada + USA

Please contact me

Detail of Polar Bear Bandit. Please scroll down for original 10” x 8” painting without text. .

The complete painting. Trim, halo, and details, including highlights in eyes are metallic gold.

What is This Polar Bear Thinking Of? Here's the Latest Advent Calendar Art Special

Everyday from Dec 1- 25th, a new polar bear painting is offered at a special value! (valid until Dec 31, 2020)

Consideration of the Polar Bear King: Polar Bear #22

The handsome, intelligent bear in this painting stands, paws together. It is if he is listening patiently to someone before him & thoughtfully considering what is said. Oh, oh. If it’s a representative of the human race before him, we ‘ve got some explaining to do.

The halo-like gold sun that radiates behind him symbolizes his powerful and royal position as top predator in the arctic.

The gold metallic paint also represents the wealth we have in the nature around us. And like the polar bear, gold is beautiful to most who behold it.

The edges of this acrylic painting on wood panel have been painted in gold. 

10” x 8” x .75 " graphite, white, black & metallic gold acrylic paint on wood panel. 

The edges of this wood panel are painted gold. Wired and ready to hang.

Special offer until Dec. 31, 2020

Reg. $260 CAD. NOW $130 CAD incl. shipping to Canada + USA

Please contact me

Why the Halo? The Inspiration for Dec 17th Polar Bear Art Advent Calendar

Today’s Featured Polar Bear in the Polar Bear Art Advent Calendar 

December 17th Special Offer -

Sun Halo Polar Bear 1

Is it a halo or the sun that frames this polar bear’s handsome face? Gold metallic paint, and a stylized purple ice floe connect us to the royalty of this incredible marine mammal and its vulnerability from our warming planet.

Sun Halo Polar Bear 1 ©Christine Montague ChristineMontague.com

The edges of the wood panel are painted in gold acrylic paint. Perfect for standing on a shelf or table. 
6” x 4” x 1.5 " wood panel. 

Artist signature on the front, unique work completion number on the back. Certificate of Authenticity is supplied.

Reg. $195 CAD, NOW $130 CAD incl. shipping to Canada and the USA. Special offer valid  until Dec. 31, 2020.

Please contact me

Why the Halo? Polar Bear No. 15 Polar Bear Art Advent Calendar Dec. 15th

Every day a new polar bear painting is added to the Polar Bear Advent Calendar at special value .

Sun Halo 1

The gold in this painting symbolizes the richness of our planet and the power of the sun. Halo-like the sun appears behind this cub.  Perhaps, we should be regarding our connection to nature as more holy.   

The curvy shape behind this little bear represents the ice on which the polar bear is so dependant upon for survival. 

And the pink? Perhaps it is about innocence. But maybe it is that I like pink, and rarely get to use it in my polar bear art :D

The edges of this wood panel are painted gold. My miniature works on panel are designed to stand..

6” x 4” x 1.5 " wood panel. 

Artist signature on the front, unique work completion number on the back. Certificate of Authenticity is supplied.

Special offer until Dec. 31, 2020

$130 CAD incl. shipping in North America  Reg, $195 CAD 

Shopping in USD? $100 USD includes shipping. (Reg. $150 USD)

Please contact me

Polar Bear #11 Stops By to "Just Say Hello"

Dec. 11. #11 of Polar Bear Art Advent Calendar Special Offer

Just Saying Hello

In this original painting, the polar bear looks up at you. Are you a snowy owl, a Gyrfalcon, or, lucky you, a Tundra Buggy passenger. Whatever or whoever you are, you are just interesting enough for our bear to pause on its solitary journey to say hello.

Just Saying Hello . ©Christine Montague 4” x4” x 1.5” painting. Text not on original art, All paint is metallic. gold, blue & green. ChristineMontague.com

(Please note: what looks like olive green in the photo is actually metallic gold acrylic paint. This painting is shiny. )

Metallic acrylic. 4" x 4" x 1.5" wood panel. Edges are painted gold. Signed, unique work completion number & Certificate of Authenticity. Perfect to sit on a shelf or table. Varnished.

Special Offer 130 CAD incl. shipping in North America.

Valid until Dec. 31, 2020. Reg. $195 CAD ($150 USD)

Please contact me.

Just Saying Hello ©Christine Montague. Without text. Sides are gold. ChristineMontague.com

Why's This Polar Bear Cub Blue? Blue Bear is Dec. 7 Polar Bear Art Advent Calendar Special Offer

Meet Blue Bear

"Blue Bear"" Joins in the Polar Bear Art Advent Calendar Special Offer!

Have you ever heard of Thomas Gainsborough's portrait painting "Blue Boy?" At one time reproductions of this famous portrait of a young man sumptuously dressed in blue, adorned many a home! 
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This little polar bear cub represented in shades of blue, doesn't need silk clothes to illustrate the wealth he represents. Not all wealth is financial. The wonder of nature and a planet in balance will provide us with more that we ever need, don't you agree? 
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Gold paint symbolize the royalty and intelligence of polar bears, but it also represents the bright sun. This little bear is all in blue, reminding us that he likes ice! But that also he is a handsome (well, cute) blue boy!
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Acrylic painting of a polar bear cub on 4" x 4" x 1.5" wood panel. Background and sides painted in metallic gold acrylic paint. Background is textured.Varnished. Certificate of Authenticity.
Please note: painting does not have text on it.
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$130 CAD ($100 USD) includes tracked, insured shipping Valid until Dec. 31, 2020 (Reg. $150 USD)
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Polar Bear Advent Calendar Specials!

Every Day from Dec 1st - Dec 25th, 2020 A New Polar Bear Painting is Added to this Special Event!

Meet the December 1st “Golden Bear” polar bear painting, Ice Bear!

Ice Bear 4” x 4” x 1.5” acrylic painting on wood panel. ©Christine Montague

About Ice Bear -

Inspired by the magnificent polar bear, this ice bear is in created with silver and purple metallic paints, and textured medium giving the illusion of ice. Acrylic medium gives this bear a shiny, raised nose. The sides are painted in metallic purple.

Please note: what reads as "grey" in the photograph is actually metallic silver.
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4" x 4" x 1.5" acrylic painting on wood panel. Varnished. Perfect to sit on a shelf or table. To hang on a wall nail two small finishing nails ( or even a couple of pushpins for it to "sit" on.) 
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$130 CAD ($100 USD) includes postage in North America. (Reg $195 CAD or $150 USD) . Today's special until Dec. 31st, 2020.
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Please contact me to to make this polar bear yours!

In the Pink - A New Polar Bear Sunset Painting

Fresh off the easel, fourth in the Polar Bear Sunset Series. In the Pink is a 24” x 24” x 1.5” oil painting on canvas. This beautiful bear is both literally and figuratively “in the pink”

In the Pink. Sunset Polar Bear Series. ©Christine Montague Please contact Christine here

Into the Sunset - A New Polar Bear Series

In this new series of polar bear portrait oil paintings on canvas, a beautiful polar bear is portrayed against the setting sun, and the arctic sea.

It is spring. The polar bear’s solitary journey in search of seals, a mate, and shelter on the sea ice is coming to an end for another year.

The darkness of the arctic winter day vanishes along with the sea ice. Sunshine returns and so do the glorious big sky sunsets.

As the day draws to an end, the sun’s glory is reflected off the open water, the remaining ice, and the polar bear's translucent fur - sea, ice and polar bear connected by its light, colour and warmth.

We can reflect, too. What will we lose under the threat of climate change? A setting sun offers hope with a new day ahead, but "into the sunset" can also signify the end. 

This is the first polar bear painting in the new series . Let me know what you think.

New! Into the Sunset 1. 24” x 24” x 1.50” oil painting on canvas. ©Christine Montague 2019 ChristineMontague.com

Beauty in Suspense

A flash of northern lights reveals a beautiful polar bear suspended beneath the surface of the sea. A buoyant animal, and a strong swimmer, it is comfortable in this underwater space.

But the frozen sea is its true place, vital to travel, hunting, mating, denning.

Due to climate change, sea ice forms later in the fall, and melts too soon in the spring, leaving the fate of the polar bear species, in suspense.

But for the time, in this painting, we can admire the beauty, and power of the bear, envy its solitude, see the intelligence in its bright eyes. Beautiful deep blues, green, and unlike the situation, black and white.

Contact me here more more info about Polar Bear Beauty in Suspense.

Beauty in Suspense. ©Christine Montague 2018 30” x 30’ x 1.5” oil painting on canvas.

Detail of Beauty in Suspense ©ChristineMontague.com

Beauty in Suspence was recently on exhibition at In Situ 2018, an exciting multi arts festival held at CreativeHub 1352 (Small Arms Inspection Building), Mississauga, ON. Canada. Although this photo is anything but exciting (I don’t have permission to publish the works it was hanging by.), it does give a good representation of how it looks on the wall, and how the edges are painted.

In Honour and Celebration

Polar Bear Painting About Tribute Wins an Award of Its Own

My polar bear oil painting Canadian Flower Crown was accepted in, and was awarded 1st prize, The Jurors’ Award, the respected Headwaters Arts Annual Juried Art Show, (on until October 8, 2018) Headwaters Arts Gallery, Alton Mill, Caledon. It was an honour for me, that my polar bear painting about tribute and celebration of this magnificent animal, received a tribute of its own!

Jurors Sue Powell, Regan Hayward, artist Christine Montague, and juror Jill Price with Canadian Flower Crown at the Jurors walk, Headwaters Arts Gallery, Alton Mill, Ontario, Canada.

It was especially gratifying and encouraging that not only did the accomplished jurors, Sue Powell, Regan Hayward and Jill Price, accept my polar bear painting into the show, but that they so clearly understood its message.

The effect of climate change, particularly vanishing sea ice is central to all my art work. In this polar bear portrait, a solitary bear is adorned in honour and celebration with a flower crown composed of the flowers of the Canadian provinces and territories, as well the nation’s symbol, the maple leaf. The polar bear is one of the world’s most loved animals, but it is Canada, that is home to 60 - 80% of the polar bear population. This magnificent, highly intelligent bear is significantly intertwined with the Canadian identity, and yet, its status in Canada, is vulnerable. 

Canadian Flower Crown, although a recent creation, was one I had in the works in my head for a few years.

(See more polar bear art here)

I was often surrounded by beautiful flowers, especially magnificent flower crowns, as my daughter was a floral designer. Keeping her company I would doodle, and flower-crowned polar bears made their way on the page.

But it wasn’t until I started to create my work for my 2018 Dark Water solo exhibit, that a flower crown polar bear insisted it appear on canvas. It became a mental block to my creating new paintings that were to be of polar bears in dark water. The only way to solve this, was to paint it, so I could get on with the show!

Canadian Flower Crown took more research and planning than most of my paintings. I had learn what the flowers of each province and territory are, their size, and their proportion in relation to a polar bear’s head. It would be so easy for this bear to be “cute” or “pretty” in a flower crown.

By showing its very large teeth, this polar bear remains the powerful animal it is.

Toronto Dark Water

You are invited! Below is the invitation to my solo show of new paintings about polar bears and climate change. Special Guest: James Kushny, a University of Toronto researcher, and Board Director for the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, the remarkable, Leed certified centre in Churchill, Manitoba, where scientists from around the world, study northern sustainability . A portion of sales will be donated to this independent, not for profit, Canadian research centre. 

An RSVP for the opening night would be appreciated. For more info, directions or to RSVP please click here. 

Polar Bears in Williams Mill. Etobicoke, too

Halton Hills Bears

The weather has been great here in the Greater Toronto Area, and for that I am grateful.

It meant that I could journey to the Williams Mill Gallery in Halton Hills, for the opening night of The Joy of Art, snow, and anxiety, free.  Opening nights are always anxiety filled for us introverted artists, even if a happy event in which I have 6 large paintings and a selection of little polar bears on panel on show.

The Joy of Art exhibit continues until Christmas. And not only would I love if you could see my polar bear paintings in person (and perhaps make one your own),  but I'd also love you to experience the beautiful venue in which I once had my studio, and resided on the Board. The historic Williams Mill Visual Arts Centre, that houses the gallery and a multiple of working artist studios, is centre to the unique picturesque hamlet of Glen Williams.  

Williams Mill is located at 515 Main St., Glen Williams. Only 20 minutes north of Mississauga. 40 minutes north of Toronto. The gallery is open Wed. - Sun., 12 - 5 pm. The 25 + artists studios are open Fridays to Sunday 12 - 5 pm.

As well as myself, other guest artists include Tina Newlove (painting), Naomi Assenheim (jewelry), Bonnie Glass (couturier), are a few of the names that come to mind. 

Visitors to the Williams Mill Gallery discussing Christine Montague polar bear paintings.  ©Christine Montague

Upcoming: Polar Bears to Artworld Fine Art Gallery

On Saturday, December 9th , 1 pm - 4 pm - I will have sneak preview of two of my new polar bear paintings for my upcoming solo show of polar bear art (March 2018) at the  TWAC exhibit and meet the artists, which is just part of the creative holiday fun at the Artworld Fine Art Gallery Holiday Open House. If you would like to participate in the "Paint with Briar Edmond" event please be sure to RSVP with the gallery.  NHL legend Red Kelly will be signing his book "The Red Kelly Story". A portion of proceeds will go towards St. Joseph's Health centre in Toronto. 

I hope to see you there!

Artworld Fine Art Gallery is located at 365 Evans Ave. Toronto, ON M8Z 1K2

Polar Bear in Dark water

Dark Water 1 is an oil painting portrait of a beautiful polar bear swimming.  The water is dark, as daylight is diminished in the arctic fall.

Polar Bear in Dark Water. ©Christine MontagueAvailable at Artworld Fine Art Gallery until July 20, 2017. 365 Evans Ave. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 

But dark water has another implication. The earth’s bright white polar ice cap, which serves as a giant reflector for the sun’s heat, is being diminished by climate change from carbon emissions. The melting polar ice increases the darkness of the planet’s surface (hence “dark water”), decreases the sun reflected back into space, and increases the heat absorbed by the earth. More ice melts, which creates more dark water,  and so the loop continues.

This loop of sea ice loss and increased dark water endangers the polar bear. Although this magnificent bear is a highly intelligent (think great ape), top-of-the-arctic-food-chain marine mammal (the only bear that is such), and is a powerful swimmer (slightly webbed front paws, highly insulated and buoyant body), it is dependant on the frozen sea for hunting (only seal fat sustains them, not berries or birds’ eggs), resting, feeding (can’t nurse in water) and denning (necessary for mother bears with cubs, semi-hibernation, and to ride out storms).  The increase of the period of open water from spring to fall, and the distance between ice tops in winter, leaves the polar bear and its cubs vulnerable to starvation, attack, and drowning.

The polar bear in Dark Water 1 gazes back upon her path, her body twisted as if in question.

It is up to the viewer to imagine how far outside the picture frame the next ice floe waits, and whether or not, until this moment, her journey was a solitary one.