Title: Polar Bear in the Arctic
Year: 2023
Size: 400mm×400mm
Media: Oil on canvas
Description:
Standing up to 3 metres high, and weighing up to 800kg male polar bears are the largest land carnivores on earth.
They spend most of their lives on the sea ice of the Arctic Ocean, feeding mostly on seals, which they can detect up to a kilometre away using a very strong sense of smell.
They can swim constantly for days at a time, hence their classification as marine mammals.
Polar bear skin like its nose, paw pads and claws, is jet black, but its translucent fur appears white because it reflects visible light, providing effective camouflage when hunting.
The transparent hair allows the sun to reach the skin directly which effectively absorbs heat, whilst the straw like hairs provide excellent insulation.
