Papa Bear At Rest (Lodge Collection)
As an artist, I often find myself connecting deeply with the subjects of my paintings, asking them to help me reveal my thoughts and feelings through art in a way that I can’t convey in words. Papa Bear at Rest is a profound testament to this silent dialogue, a detailed and realistic watercolor painting of an aging brown bear. Its expressive face and eyes represent the wisdom and essence of my father toward the end of his life.
The journey of creating Papa Bear at Rest began simply with the idea of painting a bear for my family’s cabin. While searching for reference photos, I came across a reference photo that grabbed my attention – a compelling image that I couldn’t quite articulate the significance of at the time. It ended up being both a technical and an emotional exploration for me.
Watercolor is often seen as an unpredictable medium, yet I embraced its challenges and achieved a level of detail in this piece that is not easy to accomplish with watercolor. This piece focuses intently on the bear’s face, where the textured fur is meticulously detailed in varying shades, persistently playing with light and shadow to create a profound sense of depth and realism.
Little did I realize at the time that this painting would etch itself into a treasured memory, marking the final piece of art that my father would see before his passing. My father had this deep gaze. It made me feel as though he was looking deep into my soul. The bear’s eyes transformed into something way beyond the eyes of the bear in the reference photo. I somehow managed to capture the gaze I saw and felt when I looked into my father’s eyes. This became the focal point, reflecting a depth of emotion that resonated with me and continues to resonate with others who knew him. Now I understand why the bear’s face spoke to me with such urgency and tenderness.
In sharing Papa Bear at Rest, I hope others can find their own stories within the bear’s gaze, feeling the same peace and connection that emerged as I painted. This artwork is an invitation to pause, reflect, and find solace during life’s inevitable transitions, understanding that even the strongest among us will eventually come to rest.
As an artist, I often find myself connecting deeply with the subjects of my paintings, asking them to help me reveal my thoughts and feelings through art in a way that I can’t convey in words. Papa Bear at Rest is a profound testament to this silent dialogue, a detailed and realistic watercolor painting of an aging brown bear. Its expressive face and eyes represent the wisdom and essence of my father toward the end of his life.
The journey of creating Papa Bear at Rest began simply with the idea of painting a bear for my family’s cabin. While searching for reference photos, I came across a reference photo that grabbed my attention – a compelling image that I couldn’t quite articulate the significance of at the time. It ended up being both a technical and an emotional exploration for me.
Watercolor is often seen as an unpredictable medium, yet I embraced its challenges and achieved a level of detail in this piece that is not easy to accomplish with watercolor. This piece focuses intently on the bear’s face, where the textured fur is meticulously detailed in varying shades, persistently playing with light and shadow to create a profound sense of depth and realism.
Little did I realize at the time that this painting would etch itself into a treasured memory, marking the final piece of art that my father would see before his passing. My father had this deep gaze. It made me feel as though he was looking deep into my soul. The bear’s eyes transformed into something way beyond the eyes of the bear in the reference photo. I somehow managed to capture the gaze I saw and felt when I looked into my father’s eyes. This became the focal point, reflecting a depth of emotion that resonated with me and continues to resonate with others who knew him. Now I understand why the bear’s face spoke to me with such urgency and tenderness.
In sharing Papa Bear at Rest, I hope others can find their own stories within the bear’s gaze, feeling the same peace and connection that emerged as I painted. This artwork is an invitation to pause, reflect, and find solace during life’s inevitable transitions, understanding that even the strongest among us will eventually come to rest.
As an artist, I often find myself connecting deeply with the subjects of my paintings, asking them to help me reveal my thoughts and feelings through art in a way that I can’t convey in words. Papa Bear at Rest is a profound testament to this silent dialogue, a detailed and realistic watercolor painting of an aging brown bear. Its expressive face and eyes represent the wisdom and essence of my father toward the end of his life.
The journey of creating Papa Bear at Rest began simply with the idea of painting a bear for my family’s cabin. While searching for reference photos, I came across a reference photo that grabbed my attention – a compelling image that I couldn’t quite articulate the significance of at the time. It ended up being both a technical and an emotional exploration for me.
Watercolor is often seen as an unpredictable medium, yet I embraced its challenges and achieved a level of detail in this piece that is not easy to accomplish with watercolor. This piece focuses intently on the bear’s face, where the textured fur is meticulously detailed in varying shades, persistently playing with light and shadow to create a profound sense of depth and realism.
Little did I realize at the time that this painting would etch itself into a treasured memory, marking the final piece of art that my father would see before his passing. My father had this deep gaze. It made me feel as though he was looking deep into my soul. The bear’s eyes transformed into something way beyond the eyes of the bear in the reference photo. I somehow managed to capture the gaze I saw and felt when I looked into my father’s eyes. This became the focal point, reflecting a depth of emotion that resonated with me and continues to resonate with others who knew him. Now I understand why the bear’s face spoke to me with such urgency and tenderness.
In sharing Papa Bear at Rest, I hope others can find their own stories within the bear’s gaze, feeling the same peace and connection that emerged as I painted. This artwork is an invitation to pause, reflect, and find solace during life’s inevitable transitions, understanding that even the strongest among us will eventually come to rest.