9″x12″ acrylic, 2009. This was a very tough asignment! As a Christmas gift for his girlfriend, Jonathan asked that I paint a portrait of her childhood teddy bear next to her beloved, recently deceased cat. In order to keep the project secret, Jonathan was only able to provide me with blurry, tiny photos of each of them. We had a couple of discussions about relative scale, and then I just dove in and did my best. I hope that what might have gotten lost in the details comes through in spirit!
Tag: bear
Golly
5″x7″ acrylic, 2009. This little painting was covertly commissioned by my husband for his sister for Christmas. Golly, Kris’ childhood bear, now sits overlooking our 3-month-old nephew Kevin’s crib. Amid some extended family chaos, Greg and I abducted Golly and absconded to a bathroom to take pictures for me to work from. And in keeping with family tradition, no one has any explanation for Golly’s exclamatory name.
BearBear
8″x10″ acrylic, 2009. This stuffed bear has been with Kelly since she was two, but she commisioned this painting for her mother! Bear Bear has had a long life filled with unusual purpose. Kelly’s mom is very fond of Bear Bear, and when she is feeling low, Kelly sends him to her for comfort. When Mom comes to visit Kelly and her husband, the bear sleeps in Mom’s room. Kelly is hoping that the portrait will bring Bear Bear’s presence to her mother even while they are apart.
Grover and Bear
8″x10″ acrylic, 2009. These are the favorite toys of Paul, an old friend of mine and an ADULT! I’m extremely psyched to be asked to paint time-tested toys that have hung around so long that they have come to subtley exude their owners’ style and character. Trust me, this Grover does just that. Also, I’m pleased to get to paint a classic Sesame Street personality after recently tackling nkotb Abby Cadabby!
Ned
8″x10″ acrylic on canvas, 2009. So this blanket-with-a-head trend is no joke! I would say that a majority of my recent work has been centered around intensely beloved blanket animals. So far the variations on this theme that I’ve encountered have included: Head at one corner, no arms; head in the center, no arms, and head at the center, arms. In this painting we have Ned, a blue blanket with a very cute white bear head (no arms) in its center and a matching blue sleeping cap. He belongs to six year old Henry, whose affection has worn Ned into a state of obvious contentment.
Choo Choo Chicken/Ikea Bear
9×12 oil on canvas 2005 — I have to confess — I not-so-accidently misplaced this white bear when we moved into this house. I just always got a bad vibe from it. I bought it at Ikea many years ago, liking it’s bizarre proportions, but it had a weasel-y, unpleasant expression and creepy felt claws. I never wanted it to be in the room with the baby, so now it’s gone. However, the chicken in this picture has become Sonja’s most crucially important toy!
This painting arrives wired for hanging and framed simply in pine.
$100.00 plus $7 shipping