Mr Briggs

I've had a long term affection for the work of  British illustrator Raymond Briggs. His work to me is magical, pure, emotive, ethereal and probably synonymous with Christmas to most; but that to me I know he's done so much more, (though I do admit to humming along to associated Christmas tunes). I still remember at the age of about 8, being so enamored by a cake so carefully and skillfully crafted to look like like a scene from the snowman, that I went over board buying raffle tickets in an attempt to win it. So hooked on his beautiful illustrations am I, that yes I still own DVDs and books of his work. 

Having visited the Bronx zoo in NY during September and capturing some images of various species there, I knew there was one in particular that had caught my heart. The most forlorn and sad looking polar bear. I'm not surprised, given their natural habitat and tendancy to travel for miles across the wilderness. A concrete showroom is incomparable. 

What can I say, not an ideal situation for the life of the poor guy, but hopefully he will serve as an ambassador for his species like many others in captivity. We can only hope that their position will not be abused in such circumstances. Hopefully people will learn about him and his natural life. Why his preservation and his habitat is so important to the world and how he and others like him maintain an equilibrium on this earth. 

 So here is my kind of humble tribute to my love of Mr Briggs. Named 'Polar love'. I guess it could take on a multitude of connotations. Yet another case of the polar opposite views of many people and a specie needing to be safe in the knowledge that we think enough of them and understand enough to do something about the decline of this earth.


 A4 Pastel on pastel paper.