“The polar bear is one of the largest and most
powerful carnivores in the world. Some say he is more impressive than the
grizzly bear and can be just as devastating. However, his white coat seems
to make him less threatening. It can be easily seen why his white coat would
be good camouflage in winter, even though it is as dark as night most of the
time. However, in summer, one might think that white fur would show up
against the rocky tundra landscape. This is true, but the polar bear does
not do much hunting inland, and even in summer the coast and bays of the
Arctic are full of pack ice."
The graceful curves of the
daylilies interlaced with wild grasses and set against the still waters of
the pond reminded me of a Japanese screen. The dragonflies were using the
daylilies as vantage points to watch for insect prey. They always seemed to
me like noble warriors of the air, slender, alert and agile.
- Robert Bateman
"I have been lucky enough to explore parts
of the coast of British Columbia and Alaska by float plane. We fly low
enough to appreciate the details of the cliffs, islands and forests,
visiting places with our eyes that we could never dream of visiting with our feet. In fact, we fly at
eagle height. We can, for a time, be an eagle, scanning the land below.
However, our eyes don't compare to those of an eagle for sharpness. But, for
a short while, I feel privileged to be given eagle wings, if only in my
imagination."
- Robert Bateman
"Although all foxes are perky and elegant,
this one was especially so, leading me to believe that it must be a female.
I featured the luxuriant tail, a very important asset to all foxes. This one
is graced with a superb and abundant appendage. The tail, when wrapped
around a sleeping fox's face and paws, becomes a muff and comforter with
great insulation properties, but is easy to breathe through"
- Robert
Bateman
"The idea for this painting came while
driving on one of those bright, cold, January days, with a strong northwest
wind following a snowstorm. Unfortunately, the blowing snow makes a wall of
white. For a few seconds there is zero visibility. The the thought occurred
to me about traveling in the Arctic. What if you entered the drift and,
unknown to you, a polar bear entered the drift from the other side? By the
time you both knew this, it would be too late. With polar bears, it is
important to see them from as far away as possible."
"A mother and partly grown cub move along
a ridge in the Alaskan autumn looking for berries, mice and grubs for the
final feeding which is needed for the long hibernation" - Robert
Bateman
"A member of the weasel family, the ermine
is a bold little carnivore, long prized for its fur. Except for the
tip of its tail, which remains black, the ermine's coat turns white in the
winter, allowing it to blend into its surroundings, as seen here."
The largest of all living cats, the
Siberian tiger is perilously close to extinction. In addition to
losing its habitat, the Siberian tiger is also losing its life to supply an
illegal trade network. If the Siberian tiger is to survive the wild,
the momentum to save it must prevail.
"Discover the peace of a pastoral setting.
here, deadlines give way to the ancient rhythms of nature, and gridlock is
replaced by the occasional silent fox, darting across a snow-covered path"
" Foxes are famous for their cleverness. 'Crafty
as a fox' is an old saying. They can find their way into chicken coops and
dangerous situations and usually get away unscathed. They can lead a pack of
hounds on a merry chase using tricks to cover their trail. Their wily ways
have helped them to extend their territory well within human settlements."
-
Robert Bateman
"It is
the lions that you cannot see that the prey should fear. A lion can hide in
grass scarcely higher than a foot. Their attack technique is a charge from
an ambush. The moment before the charge, they are crouched very low, both
hind feet on the ground and both eyes on the subject of the attack. It is
this moment that I have tried to capture
in this painting."
"Salmon are an essential element for nourishment
of wildlife from grizzly bears to birds to other aquatic life and insects.
Moreover, scientists have just discovered that the nutrient makes its way
through bears, birds and insects to fertilize the giant west cost lowland
forest. Salmon rivers have much bigger trees than non-salmon rivers. This
fish is so important and integral to society and nature that many people
think it should be the poster creature for the Endangered Species Act
instead of the spotted owl. "
Although I have not shown a salmon in this
painting, you know that they are there. some are in the water above the
falls and others are still fighting way upstream. This is why the grizzly
bear and gull are there. This the banquet time so important to these species
and many others. It is a far-ranging crime against nature and against us to
jeopardize the spectacular wild salmon."
Because of their remote habitats, a snow
leopard sighting in the wild is a thrill few humans will ever achieve. But
thanks to the artistry of Robert Bateman, the rest of us can imagine the
magic and mystery of such an unlikely encounter.
"The
lynx is an animal of mystery. Although they are relatively common
within their range, they are seldom seen in the wild. My painting
shows the lynx in a late evening's tranquil moment at the entrance to a
cove. It is at peace - lightly dozing prior to its night hunt."
" Our dog, Smallwood, is the center of interest.
He was mostly Labrador retriever, but his grandmother was a Newfoundland, so
he was big - 110 lbs. We got him as a puppy, and he grew up with our
children. The memories of Smallwood are the memories of my young family. Of
course, he was always my companion on daily walks. His nose and ears drew my
attention to many aspects of nature I would have overlooked. His enthusiasm
and devotion were boundless. Obviously, he always wanted to be with us; we
were his pack. It therefore seemed as though if he were inside he wanted to
be out, if he were outside he wanted in. Someone defined a door as something
a dog is always on the wrong side of . . . in his opinion. "
