Step 4 of Hope Springs Eternal

Here is step 4 of "Hope Springs Eternal".

I started working on her mother's foot and the left side of her face. Many more layers to go.

Pam

Step 3 of Hope

I painted with a friend this afternoon and got less done than I wanted. (We talked more than I painted. :)

Here is step 3 of Hope Springs Eternal.

It's still in the ugly stage but just starting to come to life.

Pam

Step 2 of Hope Springs Eternal

Just a quick step today as my mother took a fall and I had to care for her. I need some extra sleep tonight!

Step 2: of Hope Springs Eternal


Blocked in the area for Lily's nose in the background. Darkened Lily's fur with violet and black. Laid in some yellow ochre in the foreground for the dry pine needles and started shadows on Hope's face.

The underlaying of shadows will look strange until I get more detail added in the top layers.

See you tomorrow.

Pam

Hope Springs Eternal

Last night I drew out the beginning of a painting to be called, "Hope Springs Eternal". It would either be a memorial to a beautiful black bear cub named Hope or a reminder of what she looked like as a cub.

Hope and her mother Lily were separated for 5 days. I didn't want to check the internet today in case the search for Hope turned out badly so I started painting. The researchers at The North American Bear Center stepped in to reunite the pair! Congratulations to all the people that searched for the cub.

Step 1: This is the underpainting or first step in the oil painting. It is 5 x 7" on board. Hope is tucked into the leg of her mother Lily.


There will be many adjustments to the face as I work the painting.

Pam

Heat Wave

We're having a heat wave...


that's Celcius folks. Between that and a sore wrist today, no painting for me. I'm staying inside for a change.

Before I got too hot this morning, I took a look around the neighbourhood. There are more dandelions than grass today!


So that means I get free flowers for a bouquet. :)


I am waiting for news about Lily the Bear and her cub Hope. I am supposed to do a painting of them for the North American Bear Center and Lily left her cub up a tree 3 days ago and didn't return. I'll check their site tonight to see what has happened to them.

To cheer me up while waiting for news I watched a video from Corvid Ranch on feeding crows. :)



Pam

Plein Air & Bears

It's been awhile since I last posted, but I've been getting my studio and plein air painting set-up ready, as well as meeting other artists in Smooth Rock Falls.

I did a quick plein air in the back yard yesterday while explaining to a friend how plein air is done. It's hard to concentrate painting and talk at the same time.

The swallows have been fighting over the bird house in the back yard and a pair is setting up house if they can be left in peace long enough by the other swallows looking for a home.

A trip up the river gave me a chance to photograph the rapids with some good shots for reference photos.


A bear attack was in the news tonight. Bears in the spring are on edge because of hunger and the drive to mate. It's an unfortunate incident, because I have been watching a mother and cub all winter on-line with a webcam and learning their habits. The North American Bear Center

The organization contacted me this week asking if I was still interested in doing a painting for them. (I had offered a donation of a painting during the winter.) So, after The Owl Foundation painting is finished, I guess I have a painting to do of Lily the bear and her cub Hope. :)

So, I guess it's back to painting and blogging again.

Pam