GRIZZLY BEAR PAINTING

Grizzly Bear
30" x 40"
oil on gallery canvas

Well, he is finally done! This bear was a lot of fun to paint. The photo reference was from a photographer-friend of mine, Rick Paradie, who also gave me the photo for "Big Boy" which is this same bear. 

Rick is a person that I met on a plane - he was sitting next to me. We got talking about photography (he had his camera with him), websites, selling our work...and before I knew it, the flight was over, and we went our separate ways. I had given Rick my email address, and we had kept in touch on and off since that flight. Then last summer, Rick flew into Edmonton, and rented a car to come to Calgary to meet my husband and to see my studio (and me)! He is such a thoughtful person...he had brought me copies of his best photographs so that I could paint the ones I liked. What a wonderful and selfless thing to do! I especially liked the pictures of this bear - and have done 2 of the 3 now. 

Rick told me that one of the reasons that the bear's fur is what I term as "ropey" is that it had rained just before he took the photos, and the bear was still wet.

I love the pose of the bear...all that massive power just lazing over the tree trunk, just hanging out. Power under control. 

Thank you, Rick, for the beautiful photos. You are a wonderful photographer, and a very generous friend. 

I am allowing the canvas to dry on our living room wall before I put a coat of retouch varnish on it to protect the surface. My husband likes this one enough that he might not want to take it down. So nice to receive that affirmation and support from friends and loved ones. :-)

PROGRESS ON GRIZZLY BEAR

The tree behind the bear is blocked in, and the background is done! Once these layers dry, it is the log that the bear is "lounging" on that will be blocked in, as well as his claws. 

It's this stage where I begin to get excited because I can see where it's going! 

I hope you are all having a fabulous holiday. See you in the New Year.

ALL BLOCKED IN

The grizzly is all blocked in with the undertones which will show through as I create his wet, ropy fur on top of this layer. 

The bear is leaning over a log, and his great claws will shine against the wood. As well, there is a tree behind him on the right side of the canvas. So those items and the blurred background colors are next to go in as soon as this undercoating is dry. It is so much fun to see him begin to take form as the colors and shapes are placed on the canvas!

GRIZZLY BEAR ON EASEL

 I now have another Grizzly bear drawn out and started. This one is a fairly large canvas at 30" high and 40" wide. I already love the expression in this bear's eyes and the angle of his nose. This painting is in oil...so it will be lots of layers and time to set up or dry in between layers. However, that is what will give depth to his coat of fur, and hopefully make you feel like you could reach out and touch him! :-)

It is getting close to Christmas, and this year I have been contacted by two people who are giving the gift of my art to special people on their list. One is giving 6 weeks of private lessons to their loved one. The rest of the family is going to buy art supplies as his Christmas gifts (from a list I provided) so that he can practice at home in between lessons, and carry on afterward. How much fun is that!

The second person is giving a gift certificate I have created where the person will be able to choose between having a portrait of a person or pet drawn and framed OR a 5 hour private workshop in the medium of their choice. What a great gift idea!

I am looking forward to hearing how these two respond to this unique and once-in-a-lifetime gift. And, I am really looking forward to working with each of them in the New Year!

GRIZZLY BEAR IN OIL

Grizzly Bear
20" x 24"
oil on canvas
click to enlarge

I haven't named this painting yet, but I like what the client said when I sent her the photo of the finished piece. She called him a "big boy"...so that might have to be the title...what do you think? He was one wet bear when this picture was taken!

I am very pleased with how this painting has turned out, and I thank my photographer friend Rick Paradie for giving me permission to use his photo for the painting. I am just so very blessed with friends who want to contribute to subject matter for me to work with!

As I think I mentioned before, this piece will be presented to a man who is retiring from a Board of Directors, and who loves grizzlies. I think he will enjoy the thoughtfulness of those who are giving this gift to him, and I know he will enjoy the life-size bear head on his wall.