Moksgm'ol... Spirit in the Wild

**angelize** · 23 August 2011, 09:12 AM

Moksgm'ol (pronounced motch'ka moe) is a First Nations word for Kermode or Spirit Bear. These very rare bears, are not polar bears or albinos but white coated black bears, and they are only found in a small area of British Columbia's Great Bear Rainforest.

This is my attempt to do a vector drawing of a Spirit Bear.

Click image for larger version.

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**gwpriester** · 23 August 2011, 12:48 PM

If it is a spirit bear then it needs to look more ethereal. This bear (nice job on the fur) looks to solid and of this world.

Just my dos centavos.

**angelize** · 23 August 2011, 02:56 PM

Spirit Bears are very much of this world. They are very real and very amazing creatures. They are called Spirit Bears because of their white coat, and because they are often elusive. And thank you for the comment on the fur.

**gray** · 23 August 2011, 04:14 PM

Very cute little guy, Frances. The fur must have been a bear to do.

**wizard509** · 23 August 2011, 06:16 PM

Frances you said they are "white coated black bears" so I am wondering that aside from being an oxymoron, what are they coated with to make them white?

Get it, a white black bear.

**Boy** · 23 August 2011, 06:17 PM

I like it very much!

**angelize** · 23 August 2011, 09:02 PM

Thank you all.
@Gray: yes the fur was a "bear" to do. I had to keep it on a separate layer and redraw slowed my computer to a crawl.
@Larry: yes it is rather an oxymoron but white coated black bears is exactly what they are. The only difference between a spirit bear and a regular black bear ( that scientists know so far) is a rare recessive gene that gives them white fur instead of black.

**Psaumure** · 23 August 2011, 11:36 PM

Frances, Thank you for the lesson on the Bears. Unlike watching TV, when I visit this forum, I walk away smarter. I really like how you put the image together. The grass looks kind of like pine needles but it is a great effect. The fir is very well done and the whole thing looks great. I really like your work, you make using Xara fun.

Thanks for sharing,

Paul

**angelize** · 24 August 2011, 12:43 AM

Thank you Paul.

**Soquili** · 24 August 2011, 04:17 AM

Hi Frances,

I like the bear very much, great detail on the fur. The one nitpic I can think of is that the eyes have no life to them. A small highlight in the eyes will bring them to life I think.