Montana's Mysterious Fox Original Painting

   I have had a growing fascination with foxes ever since I moved to Big Sky, MT you just can’t help it when you see them so close, so often, while out hiking or skiing. It’s so magical to see the mysterious fox prancing around the forest! One time while I was skiing I even saw a pair of them mating, but one time in particular set the stage for this fox painting. 

     I was out snowboarding to cheer myself up from a delicate start to my day, I was feeling a bit down about money. I know being an artist welcomes the insecurities around finances at a different scale and that particular day I was really letting it get to me. I was questioning my own worth and beginning to doubt God’s provision & so in response, I was praying. I actually got stuck in a snowy ditch on my snowboard that powderday and just sat there for a while in my gloom with a prayer on my tongue, looking at the beautiful trees around me. Then as I got back out on the trail and took a few turns down the slope I saw a fox crossing the trail and he stopped and stared at me for a while. 

     That experience of meeting a wild animal out in the woods immediately gave me a sense of calm, call me crazy but I felt like it was a little nudge from God. I felt a Spirit of peace come over me and tell me everything's gonna be alright and that I’m being taken care of. If a tiny little animal like a fox can brave the cold winters without a care in the world, why can’t I? 

     So I suppose the fox is just a little reminder of provision and care, something that reminds me to be bold, be fearless of the future, and trust again and again that everything is gonna be just fine!

     The Glittery glow of teal around the tree was inspired by the way a pine tree looks when it is backlit by the sunshine and covered in snow. the way the snow catches the light just around the edges looks like a silver lining around a tree!

     The constellations of stars are inspired by the night sky which always blows my mind! I’m not that great at picking out constellations in the sky yet, but this is a great way for me to learn them! All the constellations on this piece are real ones you can find in the sky and I made sure to include all the zodiac signs, because hey, why not!? I made sure to put my husband and my signs right next to each other. 

     This probably isn’t the place to state my personal beliefs about the stars, but I just wanna say that science and spirituality are one in the same and while I don’t necessarily agree with everything said about a person in the zodiac (or really have much of an understanding about it at all) I love the unique personalities of each human and I know we are all reflections of God, just as his stars are reflections of his beauty and kindness towards us! 

     This Painting came about without much planning, oftentimes I’ll think up an idea and let it brew for at least a few months before beginning, but I started this one immediately after I drew a picture that struck me in some fulfilling way. I actually had a whole nother idea that I was very passionate to begin, yet this one found itself at top priority.

     I’m very pleased with how the details within the fox turned out! With these details, I’m trying to portray all the little things we easily miss out there in nature. I hope that when people view my artwork it inspires them to take a closer look, not just at the painting, but really everything in life, especially the things in the forest!