Description
Once my wife and I were setting on the front porch of cabin talking about the events of another day when a momma bear and her 3 cubs lazily stepped out of the woods and started playing in the front yard. They seemed very curious as they looked for fill their tummies. Luckily they were particularly interested in the wild berries all around the edges of the woods.
This incident reminded me of the love and fear most children have for wild animals. I guess I was raised to have a increasing healthy respect for wild animals especially as their size increases. Recalling these four bear was the inspiration for this painting I call “Yonah Selfie”. “Yonah” is the native Cherokee Indian word for bear to which I added “Selfie” because they seemed so content to just be left alone.
When I decided to do “Yonah Selfie” I knew I didn’t want a mean looking or even a friendly looking bear. I wanted him to look as curious as those 4 in my front yard. If you are particularly observant you’ll notice that I painted each hair which range in hues from dark purples, deep blues, crimson reds, a range of oranges and yellows, and even light pinks. I refused to use black of any kind as that was to typical of nearly all the bear paintings I see. I tried to portray the bears natural curiosity in a way that allows him to not appear fearful to the viewer.
