I was very fortunate to be invited to paint a pair of nesting bald eagles on Westbank First Nation land by a long time family in the area. During the months of February and March 2009, when the snow still covered the ground, I observed the eagles from a boulder near the frozen creek bed on their private property. The eagles airlifted large sticks through the tops of the bare trees to build their nest, one stick at a time. My series of pencil sketches served as a study for the larger painting, as I was captivated by the interaction of the eagles and the winter landscape around them, especially at dusk. This Acrylic on Canvas original painting, Untamed and Free, celebrates the bald eagle's beauty and spiritual connection to this longtime Westbank First Nation family. Their connection and appreciation lies in witnessing the beautiful bald eagle mating displays, the huge effort that it took for both eagles to build the impressive nest structure situated on one of the tallest dead trees on their land, and finally the birth of the two bald eagle chicks.