"Jasper" is a pastel from a photo I took between Mount Robson and Jasper in June 2024 while travelling from northern British Columbia  to Alberta.

This momma bear was busy eating dandelions while her two cubs decided to stop eating dandelions and hide in the bush close to the open area she was in. Her far ear is turned in the direction of her cubs.

When I started this pastel I was reminded of the beauty of northwestern Canada. Summer was here and the weather was  warming up after our cool start to the year.  Sadly, by the time I finished this pastel, many areas in BC and Alberta were experiencing drought conditions with  hundreds of wildfires burning throughout BC and Alberta including the devastating wildfire that in Jasper.  My heart goes out to all those affected by the wildfires and I am so very thankful to the brave men and women who work so hard to save our forests and communities.