Popeye...

I've made so many Otis bears over the years, as well as other favourites from the Explore.org bear cams, so it was an interesting challenge when I was asked if I could make a different bear.  This is bear 634 Popeye, in real life a huge boar with a large shoulder hump and piercing eyes.  Not so easy to achieve in fabric and plastic!

However, considering this was an experiment and the first time I have made him, I am very pleased with how he has turned out.  Now to find out of the recipient is as happy as I am!

On the easel - a quick bear watercolour before embarkingon yet more dog portraits.
 

Bears, Boxes & Eagles...

I have been painting, honest!  Here are the lids to a couple of trinket boxes that have been commissioned.  The first is, of course, Otis in his favourite fishing spot.

I have painted so many Otis boxes with the same picture on them that it made a refreshing change to be asked to paint a different bear.  This is Popeye, a magnificent boar who also lives at Brooks Falls, Katmai National Park.  

Both paintings look a little faded here - photo taken in the earlymorning light and they also need varnishing which brings out the colour.  I have one more to paint - Otis again, but in a slightly different pose.

As it has been really hot here this week, I can't bring myself to knit or crochet the current WIP's I have on the go as it would be the equivalent of sitting under a blanket, so I crocheted a little eagle just for fun.
 

Popeye...A Winning Bear

Hot off the easel, here is a painting of bear No.634, known as Popeye, who lives in Katmai National Park, Alaska.  Watercolour on paper.

During the summer an American magazine called Travel Guide ran a competition with the first prize being a painting by me of the winner's favourite bear seen at KPS.  I was expecting to have to paint Otis for the umpteenth time, but got a welcome surprise when the winner chose Popeye - he really is a magnificent bear.  We searched through various photographs to use as a reference and found one that we both agreed upon, taken by Theresa Bielawski who very kindly gave me permission to use it. This one was an absolute pleasure to work on, and I am so pleased to learn that the recipient loves it too.

Now it's back to the various commissions that have to be done for Christmas!