Red Bear
November 6th, 2009
red bear
Today was frustrating, not because of art, but because of other stuff. And I'm glad it's Art Every Day Month because it gave me a great excuse to get out some of my feelings in paint. I had no clue what I was going to work on when I started. I put some water on watercolor paper and then dropped black ink onto parts which made the ink spread out like dark stars or upset blowfish.
I let that dry, then went forward with red paints, squirting directly onto the paper, moving the paint with a brush and my fingers, then a touch of yellow, turquoise, and purple. Then I let it dry across the room, looking at it occasionally while I did other things. The first thing I saw in it was a bear face at the top. I tried looking for other things, but the bear was so clear, I had to paint it. It was an angry looking bear. I looked up images of bears running to get some inspiration and then I dove back in, adding legs and belly to the bear. And claws. The yellow around the black ink spots looked like dandelions, so I gave them stems.
Somewhere along the way, I noticed a figure in the bear, just a face and shoulders, sort of like a bust (see detail above.) I could have brought her out more, but I decided to let her stay there. I like how she resides right in the spot the heart would be.
While the difficult stuff is still there, I feel so much calmer in my body. And I'm grateful to the bear that showed up today to help me out, and to myself for showing up at the page.
36 Responses
Very nice – I really like the way you developed it – and discovering the figure at the heart of the bear!
Posted by: Lee Ann | Nov 6, 2009 at 7:33 pm |
how beautiful, and the uncanny little figure-head!
Posted by: Deborah | Nov 6, 2009 at 7:39 pm |
I looked up Bear in Ted Andrews’ book Animal Speak. This is a handy reference book if you don’t already own it. The first thing I noticed about Bear is that its medicine is about awakening the power of the unconscious. Coolio!
Posted by: sueokieffe | Nov 6, 2009 at 7:44 pm |
I love, love, love the bear. Are you in to animal totems at all? If you are, or not, you should google “bear as animal totem” and see if any of the description fits for how to deal with your frustrations. I think the bear showed up from your unconscious with a message. Check it out. Maybe not, but won’t hurt anything to look.
Posted by: Sherrie Phillips | Nov 6, 2009 at 7:45 pm |
Thanks guys! And yes, I have Ted Andrews’ book. And I actually looked up bears back in March when I had a very vivid dream about one. I have to go back and look them up again though!
Posted by: Leah | Nov 6, 2009 at 7:47 pm |
Hi Leah,
I love this piece of art and I love when art works out this way. I also felt it was a totem message for you.
Posted by: Julie | Nov 6, 2009 at 7:51 pm |
Stunning, Leah! I love the colors and the power in the bear.
lynn
Posted by: lynn richards | Nov 6, 2009 at 8:12 pm |
I can’t believe that you didn’t know what you were going to paint before you started. I can’t imagine trusting my intuition that much. Maybe I need to take a lesson from you and try to feel the art rather than planning it.
Posted by: Marie Young | Nov 6, 2009 at 8:26 pm |
wow, i really love this piece, Leah. and i love that you left the figure as s/he emerged and didn’t expand it. really powerful stuff.
Posted by: Marilyn | Nov 6, 2009 at 8:29 pm |
Leah!
Wow, so much feeling. I first thought it was a big cat of some sort (I love all cats). The emotion is so strong in your artwork, it’s striking, meaningful and beautiful. Intense feelings find their way to great art.
Posted by: Carmen | Nov 6, 2009 at 8:37 pm |
Oh my goodness! I just love things like this. The bust of the person showing up. I love that! It’s amazing to me when that kind of thing happens. I already liked the piece when I first saw it. I thought it looked powerful. Then reading about the little person. Ahhhh. Wonderful!
Posted by: Sharon | Nov 6, 2009 at 8:48 pm |
By the way, are you going make prints of this one to sell?
Posted by: Sharon | Nov 6, 2009 at 8:49 pm |
this makes me feel a little better too. thank you. ditto on the rough day.
Posted by: Cora Drew | Nov 6, 2009 at 8:59 pm |
This is so wonderful, an intuitive watercolor that made use of a powerful totem — and placed you right at the totem’s heart.
I’m so glad you followed your muse and reported on the results to all of us!
Posted by: Meredith | Nov 6, 2009 at 8:59 pm |
I gasped when I saw this, scared the cat. So powerful, I love the energy. Now if we can only convince the rest of the world they should make art when they are mad or frustrated…… think of the potential beauty!
Posted by: Christine Martell | Nov 6, 2009 at 9:16 pm |
WOW! The intense color and emotion are fierce and I LOVE it! It’s amazing to have a kinesthetic reaction to a two dimensional image. It makes me growl a little on the inside. Thank you for sharing this!
Posted by: Elizabeth Mendana | Nov 6, 2009 at 9:21 pm |
Stunning painting. It reminds me of Franz Marc painting; strong colors and very expressive!
Posted by: Peggy Stermer-Cox | Nov 6, 2009 at 9:23 pm |
I’m very interested in both its shoulders & the odd flower-beast-faces beneath it!
What a great streak of gold.
Posted by: Sarah | Nov 6, 2009 at 9:37 pm |
I am so impressed and awed. I have been working on just letting the painting take shape, but I always want to over work them. This is such a wonderful strong piece.
Posted by: Rennata | Nov 6, 2009 at 10:56 pm |
this is really stunning. The colors are amazing.
Posted by: Marina | Nov 6, 2009 at 11:18 pm |
love it, love, love it!!! the sort of colours l use and love. l was feeling a bit down because l am not sleeping..then l saw your blog and really made me smile. thank you my friend and good night from Londonx
Posted by: lynda howells | Nov 6, 2009 at 11:49 pm |
I love this Leah! I love the colors and the energy. The face image within the image is great. You have inspired me to give the ink a try.
Posted by: Sharon | Nov 7, 2009 at 9:00 am |
What a powerful, strong bear. I feel such raw energy when I look at it. Thank you for painting it.
Posted by: Heidi Fischbach | Nov 7, 2009 at 9:05 am |
I love love love the bear, too! And I’m learning so much by you sharing your process with it! It is amazing how these colors and images are like shapeshifters — transforming into something we wouldn’t have imagined.
Posted by: Expressive Hart | Nov 7, 2009 at 9:31 am |
Hi Leah, This bear is such a exquisite way to express your feelings. I agree with others that the bear is your totem. The appearance small figure is amazing and so telling.
Beautiful intuitive work.
Posted by: Janet | Nov 7, 2009 at 10:47 am |
Love this one it is so cool.
Posted by: Ninnie | Nov 7, 2009 at 11:19 am |
I love the bright colors, the boldness
Posted by: Bobbi | Nov 7, 2009 at 12:04 pm |
Very bold piece! I really like the color combination and the lady showing up is sort of spooky. It’s nice to be able to let out a bit of frustration or aggression in art! Therapy I say!
Posted by: linda | Nov 7, 2009 at 3:07 pm |
Hi Leah,
I am glad the bear came for a visit, very bold and striking.
Posted by: Kaylene | Nov 7, 2009 at 4:48 pm |
Last night I went to a fundraiser for the Moonbears — a species of bears that are kept in cages and milked of their bile by Chinese and Vietnamese farmers for the medicinal market. It’s a horrific situation and a group called Animals Asia is working to eliminate this practice, and provide sanctuary for these magnificent creatures. So your bear just drives home for me, very creatively and very powerfully, that every person and every animal on this planet deserves to have a good life, no less than that. Thank you!
Posted by: Virginia | Nov 7, 2009 at 8:45 pm |
This piece is amazing to me… to be able to create something like this is beyond me at this time in my creative journey… wonderful and to be able to deal with “stuff” through your art. Inspiring!
Posted by: Karen | Nov 7, 2009 at 8:51 pm |
The Bold and the Beautiful Bear. He is gorgeous!!
Posted by: Melissa | Nov 7, 2009 at 9:11 pm |
This piece is really great! The bold colors and strokes really create a sense of motion and urgency. I love the rawness of it.
Posted by: Wendy Edsall-Kerwin | Nov 7, 2009 at 10:33 pm |
It’s beautiful.I love that the bear is running. The motion really brings it to life for me.
I hope the girl in his heart is Rose Red.
Posted by: Chelle | Nov 8, 2009 at 3:19 am |
This is a powerful piece. Bravo, Leah.
Posted by: Shayla | Nov 9, 2009 at 5:11 pm |
Hi Leah, I know I’m late with the comment but I thought I would share what a saw right off the bat..The bust, well I see a man’s face…the lefthand corner of the bust is his nose the top of the bust’s head is the goggles..he has a red hood…and a beard..IT just jumped at me…I wonder if it’s significant for you so I’m sharing what I saw…
Love you work! ALL OF IT!!
I hope you are feeling better…
Cheers!
Adee
Posted by: Adee | Nov 10, 2009 at 9:50 pm |