If you are familiar with my work, then you might notice one particular animal has found his way into more than one collection of paintings.
I'm not talking about birds.
Or dogs.
I'm talking about the orange fox.
Welcome to part 2 of my Frequently Asked Questions series.
In my previous blog post I shed light on what I typically listen to while I work. (You can read the answer that surprised everyone here.) This one addresses the question about why I love painting foxes.
Often associated with mischief and trickery, foxes are complex creatures.
They are cunning.
They are agile.
They highly intelligent.
And seeing a fox in a dream or out in the wild can either be a symbol of good luck or resilience.
These cunning creatures have played significant roles in folklore from around the world.
When it comes to trickery, foxes are the unrivaled masters.
In various cultures, they are often portrayed as sly and cunning tricksters, outsmarting everyone around them.
From Aesop's fables to Native American legends, foxes are the mischievous characters who teach us valuable life lessons through their clever antics.
But my fondness of foxes goes beyond that.
When I was growing up, there was a family of foxes behind one of the biggest trees in our yard.
We always saw foxes out there in the woods.
Looking back, it didn't seem real. It was almost mythical.
Standing still as statues doing our best to stay out of sight, my family and I would watch a mother fox and her 2 pups play in the woods.
These magical sightings came at a really formative time in my life when I was an older child.
And that connection to the woods, that tether to some of the purest and simplest moments as a young boy is still strong today.
For me, the fox represents surprise, delight, and family. I just know that I'm going to have a great day when I see one.
When I paint foxes, I particularly love to paint them nestled in a cozy den...
their home...
their safe place...
because of my connection to my home and safe place.
So the next time you see an orange fox tail in one of my paintings, just know I was painting from a place of pure childhood magic.
Can you find the fox in this Folk Tale Canvas Print?
18 comments
The house we moved to 8 years ago has a family of foxes. I find them magical as well as mischievous. Then I found your artwork which I find full of whimsy and little surprises. People ask me what draws me to your artwork and my response is a simple ‘it makes me happy’!
What wonderful memories of your childhood! I too remember seeing foxes from time to time behind our rural home when I was growing up. Your work is enchanting.
Your embrace of color coupled with whimsy is what has drawn me to this wonderful art you create. It is a pleasure to watch you work, via your posts, and even better when I look at the prints I have purchased. You truly are a special artist. Thanks to Erin Napier for making you known to the world!
I love your foxes and the dogs that you put in a lot of your artwork. You are so talented and your style is unique. We look forward to owning an original someday.
The first print I saw of yours on Home Town, Erin had over the mantel in one of their renovations and it was of your fox cosily nestled under the tree with babies. I was hooked. I have loved your work ever since and I have some of your prints adorning my home. Not a fox yet but I will have one. And someday I hope to have a glorious original of yours. Your work makes me feel serene. God bless you.