fact sheet: https://www.nathab.com/blog/brown-bear-facts/
image reference: https://www.muchbetteradventures.com/magazine/hiking-greece-brown-bears-callisto-conservation/
inspiration:
I wanted to paint an animal that spoke to me of strength. I immediately thought of bears, partly because of the “mama bear coming to the defense of her cub” stereotype. I was particularly attracted by the strong arms and shoulder of this image.
Creation:
I used light brown to block in the shape of the bear and switched to gray to put in rocky background. I spent a couple painting sessions using short strokes to indicate fur. I tried to use the color of the brushstroke to show volume. (Somewhere along the way, I wondered if it would’ve been useful to paint a naked bear and then add fur to it.)
I realized that I didn’t capture the turn of the bear’s head in the photo, so I spent a painting session concentrating on the head and face. At first, I left the eyes blank and try to go in with black as my last move. I wanted the eyes do have some life in them. The photo does not include any catch lights. The eyes in the photo are unseen. I ended up with a rather wistful looking bear.
Insights:
- I enjoyed the “flow state” of painting the body of the bear.
- Looking at how the light falls on an object is the path to rendering volume.
- Strength isn’t always overpowering. It can come from honest presence. The bear is being wholeheartedly itself. There is power and strength in that unapologetic stance.