From David in Lithuania

Every day, all around us, energy swirls and pools in eddies and puddles of unknown magnitude. There are forces at work in this world that are beyond our imagination and exceed the musings of our wildest dreams. Each step we take, we wade through streams of power and rivers of universal agency that set in motion the mysteries of our very existence. Some enigmas are known to us and some are not. And while we may not know the answers the riddles, we are familiar with the questions themselves: What exists inside the annals of the wolf’s animalistic mind? What is his greatest desire? How does he commune with the infinite universe that surrounds him? How is his existence similar to or different from mine?

It’s questions like these that sometimes keep me awake at night, and although I know these mysteries are unsolvable, this doesn’t mean that pursuing their ends is not a worthwhile endeavor. As I take in all that David has to offer in this magnificent portrait, I’m reminded of these universal enigmas and of the unrevealed secrets that the almighty universe has chosen to keep from our uncomprehending minds. As humans we have explored these mysteries with theories, estimations, symbols and philosophies, but we may never know the truth.

Perhaps one of the greatest mysteries of all is whether we are the most capable of creatures in exploring these questions. We set ourselves as lords above the physical reality in which we exist, but what if there is one among us who understands these eternal riddles more readily than we do… and he just won’t tell us the answers?

From Jecobia

Having relinquished my official role as a student for quite some time now, the world of formal education has become a relatively foreign place to me. Given this fact, it came as quite a surprise when Jecobia sent me this tasteful video which she produced for a small classroom project. To say I was honored would be quite the understatement. While I have always hoped that this global gallery of lupine artwork might serve to inspire a smile from time to time or create a pleasant diversion from the rigors of daily life, I had never imagined that it might provide some educational value to America’s youth. I couldn’t be more pleased than to imagine a group of students taking note of WBS and using it to further their studies. So, to Jecobia, if you are reading this: Stay in school and keep on the straight and narrow path. Always allow your heart to be your guide and trust your instincts. Search for inspiration in the unusual and never allow detractors to distract you from your goals and dreams. Also, while you pursue the soul of your education, don’t neglect the education of your soul. And finally, always keep that small and sacred part of your heart reserved for the wolf; it will never lead you astray.

From Laura in New York

While aggressive wolves with teeth bared in militant hostility are often the focus of lupine artwork, the talented young Laura offers a different perspective with her lighthearted portrait of a particularly friendly subject with an almost goofy smile. And while some individuals might say that this is not an accurate depiction of the noble savage, it does capture a very real side of the beast – a side that desires acceptance and even friendship. And while the wolf’s request for acceptance may not literally come in the form of the wide-eyed and friendly portrayal offered up by Laura here, her illustration does serve as a reminder that at the heart of each and every creature lies a desire to simply be – a wish to coexist and fulfill an individual purpose. And while sometimes this desire does bring the wolf into a necessary conflict with other beings, this reality is always better faced with a smile…

From Gabrielle in Redlands, California

There’s something uniquely inspiring about viewing a piece of artwork that cannot even be contained by the very paper on which it is printed… something that suggests that the artist was so captivated by her subject that she completely disregarded the notion that her work could be contained. Such is the case with this latest contribution by California native, Gabrielle. I know that you cannot experience the full grandeur of this piece because even my own scanner could not accommodate the size of this magnificent masterpiece, but as you may be able to tell, Gabrielle leaves no space untouched by the artistry of her pencil, and her artwork proceeds to the very edges of the paper and perhaps even beyond. As a result, the fervor and passion that would inspire her to utilize every square inch of parchment to express her passion is nothing short of  moving and encourages each of us to reach beyond our perceived limits and break free from the cages that attempt to contain us…

From Ashley

From the onset of this project, I made a commitment to share every wolf illustration that I received with the viewing public; however, I ran into a strange conflict of interests when I began receiving pictures that might be abrasive or disturbing to certain viewers because of depraved sexual content. In the end I decided that I wanted wolvesbystrangers.com to be a safe haven where individuals could experience lupine artwork that would stir their senses and inspire their spirits but that would not trouble their thoughts with worry about inappropriate content. So, as you might have guessed, I actually do have quite a stock pile of suggestive wolf subjects that I’ve kept to myself.

When I received the above illustration from Ashley, my first thought was that I would not display it because of its phallic reference, but upon further reflection I decided that it was a harmless and humorous homage to a little bit of silly lupine potty humor and that the amount of laughs and smiles that it would incite would probably far outweigh any outrage over inappropriate content. In the end, though, I suppose that the audience should be the ultimate judge. So… let me know what you think. Send me an email at wolvesbystrangers@gmail.com. Should I continue to sensor possibly disturbing submissions or share them all and let the chips fall where they may? But let me say that this playful pic by Ashley is merely the tip of the iceberg, so if you ask for full disclosure, don’t say you weren’t warned…

From Ania in Krakow, Poland

I read somewhere that a wolf’s howl can be heard up to 6 miles away in a forested environment and that on the open tundra those lonesome cries have been known to travel for up to even 10 miles. However, in a truly amazing feat, the howl of Ania’s awe-inspiring lupine subject will reach every corner of the globe. Yes, it sailed across the ocean through invisible electrical currents from Poland all the way to the American Southeast, and now it is recreated and amplified here in this public forum for all of you.

So remember: no matter which city or which country you lay your head down in tonight, you can rest in the assurance that the wolves are howling all around us to the very same moon in the very same sky, and even though we may not hear them with our very own ears, their cries are not in vain. They are absorbed into the night sky where they dissipate for all of eternity, raining down on us in the winter snow and rising from the earth in the morning dew. They twinkle in the stars that shine overhead and warm us through the sun’s rays on a springtime afternoon. They inspire us to create artwork to share with strangers, and in this way the wolf’s cry is never silenced and reverberates into eternity…

From Zachary Sweet

“I didn’t expect her to counter my plans with nakedness.”
- Matthew Miller (whoever that is… I think…)

I can’t remember where I heard this quote, and I have no idea who/what it is in reference to, but I ran across it some months ago, and when I laid eyes on Zachary’s wild wonder of lecherous lupine artwork, the saying just popped back into my head. I don’t know… it just seemed to fit.

As always, to see more of Zachary’s “sweet dreams and daymares” click here.

From Hannah in Chattanooga, Tennessee

When Hannah sent me practically a whole portfolio’s worth of pictures about 16 months ago, I realized instantly that they were too stunning to be displayed in one fell swoop. As a result, I’ve been parcelling them out, mostly one at a time, for more than a year now, hoping that revealing them periodically would allow each piece to be able to have its own place in the spotlight. Well, I’ve been saving one final masterpiece for an especially rainy day, and it just so happens that its been pouring all weekend. As a result, it seems only fitting that I bestow upon you the final piece of artwork that Hannah supplied me with in November of 2011. Its been a long journey to arrive at this final masterpiece, but I’m glad that we’ve made it together. And who knows? Maybe Hannah is working on another fantastic wolf portrait for all of us at this very moment. Only time will tell, but if you’re out there, Hannah, we’re drooling like rabid wolves in anticipation for your magnum opus. Don’t keep us waiting for long!

From Victoria in Oregon

I received this work from Victoria just a day or so after I displayed her work at post #434. In her email she lamented the fact that grey wolves got all of the attention and then stated that the above illustration did not technically depict a wolf. I was a bit shocked to hear this, and when I inquired, the talented artist said that it was in fact a “maned wolf.” So, I set about the business of educating myself. With the help of the grand ole’ Wikipedia and the accomplished young Victoria, I’ve learned quite a bit this week. Interested in finding out more about maned wolves for yourself? click here.

From Sabrina Villarreal

I’m not ashamed to admit that the nightmares of my youth still give me a fright upon my remembrance of them; however, at the same time a sort of intimate nostalgia persists within these childhood horrors. There’s a closeness and familiarity that I associate with certain fears that allows me to make them my own. Essentially, for all of us our fears are high idiosyncratic and very personal. Although the masses may share common fears, a man’s imagination produces images all its own and thus makes his individual interpretation of any threat highly unique.

I’m not exactly sure what it is about this particular painting by Sabrina that gave me a start when I first laid eyes upon it, but I can tell you that after some reflection the image of this wolf transported me back to a childhood fear that is still partially buried in the annals of memory. I can’t quite dig up the circumstances or the exact state of affairs, but something about this wild creature shook the roots of my tree of memory down to their deepest reaches. Perhaps I’ll never fully dredge up the connection I feel with this ferociously tousled predator, but I can tell you one thing: I don’t think I’ll tire of gazing at it in the attempt.

If you love this brilliant wolf as much as I do, check out more of Sabrina’s work at her etsy shop. I’m sure that she’ll appreciate your interest and patronage. Also, visit her facebook page here. If you’re a child of the 80′s or a fan of pop culture inspired artwork, you’re guaranteed to love her stuff!