Rethinking The Big Bad Wolf

Good news! New artwork is now being accepted for a chance to be part of a nationwide PSA campaign to save the wolves: Submit your original artwork

Earthjustice has partnered with the Creative Action Network calling on artists to create a body of work in honor of the embattled gray wolf. The campaign seeks to debunk negative stereotypes of the wolf, portraying the species in a playful, uplifting way and celebrating its status as an icon of the wild.

Featured Artwork:

Save The Wolves

By Emily Kelley

“When I thought about how to portray the wolf, I wanted to convey something intriguing and inviting, but strong and powerful. I think the classic silhouette of a wolf is very powerful, but incorporated warm colors to bring a new light to the wolf.” Artist interview

Mystery Wolves

By Walt Barker

“My design was based on my own reaction to several encounters with wild wolves. In each case, I was struck by how much a part of the landscape they were, how they were just one of many indispensable aspects of the ecosystem. If you watch their behavior close enough, you get a sense that nature is rarely wasteful. I think there is a lesson in that.” Artist interview

Wolf Love

By Luis Prado

“I have always liked wolves. Let's make sure federal protections are not taken away.”

How Lonely Is The Night

By Roberlan Borges

“This design was created thinking of the wolves as the cool guys, the ones everyone wants to hang with. A vintage design inspired and having in mind the word ‘tradition.’ The message is to save the wolves and keep the tradition alive.”

Wolf Love

By Jeff Walters

“I illustrated an American traditional, tattooed hand to show our connection to the wolf.”

Origami Wolf

By Todd Gilloon

“My future is in human hands.”

Born To Be Wild

By Naomi Sloman

“For my ‘Join the Pack’ design I wanted to depict the wolf as a wild character. I wanted my wolf to look cool, strong and wild, without seeming fierce and threatening, so I chose to interpret the quality from a more human perspective. The idea of a biker came to mind instantly—after all motorbike gangs, like wolves, travel in packs.”

Hipster Wolf

By Daisy Patton

“With humans encroaching on wolves' natural habitat, I liked the idea of a wolf who has adapted by adopting human practices, specifically a hipster who focuses on appreciating nature and a return to certain pre-modern practices. It is a reminder that while it is a funny concept, we humans should be mindful of our impact and seek to protect these incredible animals.”

Calling

By Mario Fuentes

“I made a new version of the famous poster by James Montgomery Flagg used to promote the recruitment of young people for the U.S. Army during World War I. This new poster aims to get us to join the ‘Join the Pack’ campaign for the protection of wolves that are in danger of extinction.”

Three Little Pigs

By Darrell Stevens

“Good design should convey its message clearly, but also make people think. My aim with this piece was to create something thought-provoking about how the wolf has been portrayed in an unfavorable light for many years. Perhaps the so-called ‘Big Bad Wolf’ has his own story to tell.”

Join The Pack

By Kevin McGeen

“On a trip through Northwest Canada and Alaska, I was drawn to the way in which wildlife, and wolves in particular, were incorporated into Native art and storytelling. I wanted to honor the wolf and create something that payed homage to the art, beauty, creativity and respect for nature I experienced on that journey.”

Happily Every After

By Victoria Fernandez

“There´s something about wild things that really attracts me. They have amazing instincts. Wolves are wild creatures with a heightened sense of society and team work, they care about their pack like big families. That’s really impressive.” Artist interview

“Hay algo de las creaturas salvajes que realmente atrae: su increible instinto. Los lobos son seres con un gran sentido de la vida en sociedad y el trabajo en equipo, su manada funciona como una gran familia, eso es muy impresionante.” Entrevista con la artista

Wolf Pack

By Matt Brass

“The wolf is a kindred spirit. It’s not the fastest or strongest animal but, in my opinion, the wolf most closely reflects the values of courage, comradery and loyalty that we as people hold dear. It was an honor to be part of a campaign to help convey those concepts and bolster support for a species still in need of our protection.”

That's Amore

By Susanne Lamb

“The image of a wolf howling is considered so fearsome, and the sound itself truly is, but I wanted to represent one of the not-so-spooky reasons wolves will vocalize at night. The call is often made by male wolves to attract females. Romantic!” Artist interview

The Wolves Are All Right

By Matilde Digmann

“I wanted to make a howling wolf in a setting with mountains, a full moon and a forest. I make pop-surrealism, so the mountains look a bit like melting popsicles, and the wolf doesn't look scary at all. A friend commented that it looks like the cover of the movie Jaws, but that wasn't my original intention.”

Liebe den Wolf

By Brixton Doyle

“I invoked the old fairy tale of Red Riding Hood and gave her a distinctly different attitude toward the big baddie. A valentine for the good work of Earthjustice and its efforts in preserving the gray wolf.”

Join The Pack

By Michael Czerniawski

“Because the campaign was about changing people’s minds on an important issue, I wanted to make something that had aspects of classic propaganda. I also wanted to bring in elements of the old west because it feels kind of wild and free, the way I imagine wolves should be.” Artist interview

Ole Blue Eyes

By Bob Rubin

“'Oh Grandma, what big eyes you have …' The wolf (canis lupus) has suffered a bad rap from Li'l Red Riding Hood, ad infinitum. Time to turn things around and improve the image of these eco friendly guys. And yes … some wolves do have blue eyes. Not many, but some do.”

Le Loup Retourne

By Ray Wan

“‘Le loup retourne toujours au bois’—literally ‘The wolf always returns to the woods’—is an old French expression that means we always go back to our roots. At its most literal interpretation, the proverb pays tribute to decades of conservation efforts to reintroduce the wolf back to the American landscape.”

See more designs & submit your artwork at the Creative Action Network

And, don't miss our broader advocacy campaign to protect wolves, including an animated short film, quizzes and more cool stuff

Join The Fight For Wolves.

This crowdsourced art campaign comes at a time when congressional leaders seek to strip protections from gray wolves and other endangered species. We must all #JoinThePack to ensure the survival of this icon of the wild.

Help protect wolves & the Endangered Species Act

Politicians in Congress are attempting to prematurely remove protections from wolves and subvert the Endangered Species Act, one of the most effective laws of the land.

Continued endangered species protections are critical to securing the recovery of wolf populations.