Bear n Knot

tnartist05 · #1 04-28-2008, 08:11 AM

This was a old found Walnut knot and it a hard wood to say the least but Sat.trying to get back into carving something,I carved this black bear in this knot. Hes 4 X 7 inches and painted with acrylic. I wish it had been thicker in the back where I could have gotten his nose out alot more in the front.

Your thoughts or comments are more than welcome,Thks" Forrest

After reading a few of the comments on this bear,alot enjoy the painting of him so I think I will just take the time to tell you when I started painting!?

I was in the 1st grade in school and I will never forget my teacher,I loved her so much,she took special time with me. Never will for get her name?? Its uhhhh?? Its UHhhh?? Oh yea,Mrs Smith...kinda a hard name to remember plus spelling it also.

Class take out your book and turn to the 1st page,as I call you up front,read the words,SEE Spot RUN and show the pict to the class. Mary read See Spot Run,then Tommy and all the rest in the class,I was last one to step up and read and show the pict.Guess because I was 6 ft 2 when I was in the 1st grade.

See that dang olde broken down dog thats trying to get that rabbit!! I read!

FORREST............ Take your seat young man! She wrote on the board,this is the correct words,SEE Spot Run,then she turned around and shouted at me, Forrest What are you doing with that desk in the air!
You told me to take my seat,so now where in the heck do you want it??

Come here young man~~ Into the coat room you will go! Once in there it was dark as mud and finally I sat in some little chair but it had a table by it too,OHhhhhhh man,I felt alot of the little bags on that table,OHH MAN!! I dont know but inside was nice sandwiches and apples and cookies! I guess I ate about 12-15 of them bags!

Just then the coat room door opened? Now go back and sit down Forrest! Class does any of you want to learn how to PAINT!! I DO!! I DO.......I shouted!!! Ok then Forrest you get that box with the tin cans of power paint down for me. Yes Mame!! I open the tin lids on all the paints for Mrs Smith,she was about to add some paints to bowls of water but then over the loud speaker,Mrs Smith please come to the office.

Class yall mix you some paints and paint what you read about this morning! I was really haven fun now painting!! Then Mrs Smith came back?? FORRESTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT What have you done?? Why did you paint the children with red paint FORREST!!! I did what you said, You said to paint all the kids RED! NO~ NO~ Forrest

Ok,Get your desk and bring it to the back of the room,Forrest! Ok,once back there she placed my desk kinda in corner and said,sit down! Awwwww she placed a crown type of hat on my head,Man now,I got the prize and a crown to prove it with for my good painting but I still couldnt read some letters that was on this cone shapped hat/crown. Something about Dun?? Guess it stood for I dun good or something!

After she cleaned or tried to clean some of the kids up,she said,class follow me,we are going to lunch! I wasnt really hungry from all the nice bags of food in the coat room besides all the kids was just looked at me,I dont know why they wasnt eating????

After lunch back in the class room,Children lets rest our heads on your desk,even Mrs Smith laid her head on her desk. She plus the other children was asleep now so I crawled past them out the door to the playgrounds. FORRESTTTTTTTTTTTTT Oh God,it was Mrs Smith,she came up behind me out there. Forrest what are you doing?? With my back to her,I rasied my arms and turned around,Im Sleep Walking!!

She took me by my ear and back in then sat me back at my desk in the corner. As time when on for me in the 1st grade,I drew and painted picts is all I did every day but one evening when I was leaving when the bell rang,Mrs Smith said, Forrest,You stay in... did that most days anyway!

Forrest,Its time you Graduate!! Oh My GOD- MRS.SMITH,you really mean it?? Yes Forrest you are now 14 yrs old and been in the 1st grade for 7yrs now,ask your grandmother to come in the morning to school with you!

The next morning,my grandmother came with me to school and cried when Mrs Smith,told her Forrest is graduating school now! She told my grandmother,Forrest needs to go into the art field with his paintings and drawings.

Once me and my grandmother got home,she was so proud of me,being the only one in the family to finish school! Grand maw,can I ask you something?? Yes Forrest. Where is that Art Field? Where I need to do my paintings and drawings at?? I dont rightly know Forrest,think its down some from the corn field! Ohhhhhh ok,thks and I will be down there ok.

This is just how I started being able to paint and I owe it all to Mrs?? What was her name again?? I really like her,her name is Uhhhh?? UH??

JimmyB · #2 04-28-2008, 09:01 AM

Very creative Forrest.

tnartist05 · #3 04-28-2008, 09:43 AM

I just hate wasting any type of wood Jimmy. Thanks for ckn him out! Forrest

sharon cottrell · #4 04-28-2008, 11:15 AM

I think you did a really nice carving.From the picture, there's enough depth to his nose.I think you did the best with what you have.Looks great to me...sharon

Irish · #5 04-28-2008, 11:38 AM

The carving is perfect for you wood ... but your painting job is even more perfect to go with the style of face that you did! Very nice!

tnartist05 · #6 04-28-2008, 11:48 AM

Thank you Sharon! The knot's highest point was at the top of the bears head and I had to have that area for his head and ears. If the highest point in the knot was in his nose area,I could have carved the nose out alot more. But Im glad you liked him the way he turned out plus thanks for your nice comments! Forrest

tnartist05 · #7 04-28-2008, 11:52 AM

Thank you very much Irish! Your compliments are very encouraging to me.

Thanks again,Forrest

Merle Rice · #8 04-28-2008, 01:30 PM

Hi Forrest, I see your back to work and producing fine Art work. I like him. It looks like you are on your way to a lot more Ribbons next year. Keep it up and they will not let you compete. ( To Good.) LOL. Merle

Jim-Iowa · #9 04-28-2008, 01:42 PM

Forrest: I am impressed with you art work.
But I think your going to have to practice a lot, to exceed your ability to spin a yarn. Please take that as a compliment I come from a long line of storytellers and it is a highly respected art form in my family.

tnartist05 · #10 04-28-2008, 01:45 PM

I dont know about all that Merle! I hope I dont have any thing left this year for the carvers shows next year. I will have alot of time this summer and next fall to carve something for a carvers show. This bear was just something,trying to get back in the swing of things since I was off a few days. Thanks my friend,for ckn out the bear and I appreciate your kind words!

Forrest