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Strasburg Studio Archives: Rediscovery in the Stacks
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K O Y A A N I S Q A T S I
( L i f e o u t o f B a l a n c e )
FEBRUARY SPOTLIGHT : "IN THE BALANCE"
48 x 24", oil on birch panel, 2018.
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Thank you for joining me on this monthly trip through the archives of my studio.
In the Balance, 48 x 24”, oil on birch panel.
January wrapped itself in a heavy fug. Here it is at its close and I scramble to get this archive post written. The holidays came and went, leaving me with little energy to welcome the new year. Deciding to merge the January and February newsletters, I hoped that somewhere in the mix, I’d find the spark to ignite 2025.
Alas, each day’s news cycle drains me and the great loss suffered by our southern neighbors in the Los Angeles fires made a sobering start to this year.
February’s spotlight, In the Balance, reflects my state of mind right now; so much that we hold dear feels like it’s teetering on the edge.
I wouldn’t call myself an activist, but I do consider myself a deeply sensitive observer of the world around me—keenly aware of the toll humanity is taking on the natural world. In In the Balance, I wanted to capture not just the majesty of the polar bear, but also the fragility of its existence in a rapidly changing world.
As these magnificent creatures struggle to adapt to the loss of their icy habitat, they’ve become more than symbols of the Arctic; they’re like the canaries in the coal mine, warning us of the delicate balance at stake.
The message grows stronger with each passing year: as the ice caps melt and the polar bear’s future grows more uncertain, we are reminded of the impact of our actions. We humans can be greedy creatures whose aspirations often overshadow the needs of the earth’s other inhabitants. But these bears aren’t alone in watching their homes disappear, we too are now feeling the effects.
As the year unfolds, the weight of all that feels fragile and fleeting and continues to press on me. But perhaps it’s this very fragility that makes our connection to the earth—and to each other—more vital than ever. In the Balance isn’t just a reflection on what’s at stake, but also a reminder of how much beauty is still worth fighting for.
Looking toward the months ahead, I’m trying to hold onto that hope—hoping that, in some small way, we can all contribute to a future where the beauty of the land, the animals, and the people are still in harmony. Is it still possible that 2025 can be a year where we choose balance over destruction and awareness over apathy?
My fascination with painting these majestic creatures began with small gouache studies. They are wee 4x6" paintings on Arches watercolor board and a collection of them hung alongside the oils in an exhibit titled Bear Area Artists hosted by Sullivan Goss in 2018. In the Balance was one of a trio of larger oils that manifested from these smaller studies. Some of the bears' faces were modeled after my red-headed Border Collie, Molly, so they remain near and dear to me.
(gouache left: Nanuk 13 - center: Nanuk 10 - right: Nanuk 11)
