12X16", 1990, limited edition 100, $35.00.
This portrait of a grey wolf is by far my most popular piece. It won the "Drawing" division of the Michigan Upper Peninsula.State
Fair in 1990. With "Condemned Eyes" I was trying to capture the soulful expression of the wolf without making him appear too
dog-like. I don't know if I succeeded, since this piece is especially attractive to the owners of Malamutes and Huskies! Nevertheless,
I have been touched by the plight of the wolf. He is all predator; certainly not the cuddly pup that the public appears to
think. Wolves have been glamorized by the current trend of sympathy toward them, but the truth is that they are terribly destructive
and ultimately dangerous when "domesticated". They are programmed to eat anything, and reportedly will swallow buttons, shoes,
plastic items such as combs and brushes; you name it, a wolf will eat it. This tendency unfortunately extends to small children,
which has led to disastrous episodes for people who have tried to keep wolves as pets. When left alone in the wild, wolves
are notoriously timid, and are rarely seen even in areas they frequent, such as Alaska. Wild wolves are not known for being
dangerous to people, but have been butchered because they are mistakenly perceived as a threat to livestock. I support the
reintroduction of the wolf and I believe that ranchers can learn to live with them by employing natural deterrents, such as
dogs or donkeys, to their herds. Raising animals of any sort involves risks, but these risks should not be eliminated at the
expense of a species.
