The Bear?

Okay, it really is a bear, people. But, apparently it's many things to many people because several people in the studio guess it was a sloth or octopus or even a shapeshifter. I was only slightly offended at the octopus, though the person saw it upside down as I was trying to show it to them and I guess the fur looked like tentacles.  The sloth--somewhat understandable I suppose.  I was intrigued by the idea of a shapeshifter and that may be a subject for a future piece! That said, this piece has garnered tons and tons of attention. Perhaps it's because it's different than a lot of the pieces I make in that it's more realistic in it's woodland color palette and style, or maybe it's the more details stitching in the face or maybe it just stands out in the studio against all the ocean colors.  Whatever it might be, I always love when a piece gets lots of attention.  And I do love this bear. I never could decide if he was a brown bear or a full on grizzly...I'll leave that up to the new owner.  I used six colors of thread to create his powerful face and am very happy with how it all came together. I used a cream color thread to stitch all the fur and the hint of redwoods behind him, and then focused the attention on his face to bring out his bold, strong shapeshifter-at-heart personality. He needs a name.  Maybe I'll ask his new owner what that will be.

In order as I added the different layers of thread to work up to the finished face.

I free motion quilted the forest in the background. This gives it depth and location without taking away from the focal point, which is his beautiful face.

This has to be one of my all time favorite faces I’ve ever done.