The black bear is easily the most beloved symbol of the Great Smoky Mountains. Every year, millions of visitors travel to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, hoping to catch a glimpse of these iconic animals in the wild. On a summer trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, we joined them - hoping for our own bear encounter.

We rented a cabin tucked high in the woods, surrounded by thick forest. As luck would have it, our most memorable sighting came not on the trails, but from our very own deck. A large mother bear had quietly settled into the brush just below us. Once she realized she'd been spotted, she emerged from the shadows and treated us to a quiet moment - stretching, scratching, and surveying the area - before disappearing back into the trees.

This oil painting captures the instant she was first seen peeking out from the dense underbrush, half -hidden by the forest but fully present in that fleeting, magical moment. It’s a tribute to the quiet, wild beauty of the Smokies and the unforgettable experience of sharing space - however briefly - with one of its most cherished inhabitants.

This painting can be viewed and purchased at Vermont Artisan Designs Gallery, 106 Main St, Brattleboro, VT 05301, USA

Inquiries can be made by emailing vtartisan2@gmail.com or call (802) 246-7245