The wolf who posed for me this time was a tame animal that was taken care of so well that it looked like a wonderful domestic dog. The owner (a police officer) had confiscated it from a "macho man" who wanted to demonstrate his power by walking on the beach with a wolf. Closer investigation showed that the wolf was kept in miserable condition. The police officer was a real animal lover, together with his wife, also a police officer. They invited me to stay together with the animal for several hours. Although there was great contact, the wolf sometimes snapped at my leg when I came too close to let me know who was the boss. This experience gave me the idea to paint a wolf that reminds every dog owner of his own dog since wolves are the ancestors of our much-beloved domestic dogs. In the wild, some wolves stay alone for a time before eventually joining another pack. This one must be such a "loner." - CB