Bear necklace

The idea for the painting came from the bear necklace pictured. My understanding is that it is made as a sign of thanks to the spirit of the bear for giving it's life so that others may live. In the painting, the textured area is the (green) bear necklace. The blue covering the green beer necklace is the spirit of the bear finding and embracing (or enveloping) the necklace offered in thanks. It has been suggested that the red is the blood of the bear, not to be wasted, to be covered if any is spilled so the spirit won't see it and be offended by the waste. You may want to check with your local anthropologist about that last bit, I did. ;-)