Frost-Ted

It's been ages since I had fun painting  a Ted so when I thought of this idea I just couldn't resist.

 It's been pretty chilly here over the last few weeks. Temperatures have been well below zero with heaps of snow. Despite the frigid temperatures one of my little bears was quite happy to pose while I painted him. As you know though, I am not a fast painter....I think little Frost-Ted would really like to come inside now. Do you think you can you let him in?

Transparent Watercolour 7.5 by 9 inches

Copyright-Ted

I had to go back into hospital for a while because I contrated an infection during the procedure a week or so ago and it was getting worse. While there I couldn't resist painting this little Ted painting to take my mind off things.

I thought it would be fun to have it instead of a plain copyright symbol in the Ted book I am going to be creating later this year. What do you think?

All too often people use an artists work without their permission because they are just not aware that an image, even though it has been put on the web or in a magazine, still belongs to the artist. I have encountered this many times, especially with my Ted paintings so I thought I would create a Ted painting to help raise awareness. Ted says

' Please enjoy looking at the artwork. Share it with your friends if you would like but always ask first and give credit to the artist because we are Copyright-Ted'

Ona

Ted's In print

A copy of 'The Art of Watercolour' magazine arrived in the mail for me yesterday afternoon.

It was very exciting to see my 6 page featured article in print.  Thanks again to Laurent Benoist and Janine Gallizia. You've done an amazing job.

If you are interested in ordering a copy of the magazine follow this link

And to all of you that live within travelling distance of the GTA, many of the Ted paintings will be on display next month at the Richmond Hill Studio Tour so keep the 19th and 20th of October free. I will post more details about the tour in a couple of weeks.

Ona

Sold at Art in the Park

As part of the Richmond Hill studio Tour promotion I was asked to paint  at an official Park opening as part of an Art in the Park event. Its always lovely to meet and chat to the public about what we love doing.

I was painting the last in the current Ted series. It's technically not quite a miniature  if you include the painted in mat but the actual painting part is only 6.5 by 2.75 inches so its pretty small.

 I hadn't quite finished it by the end of the afternoon so brought it home and finished it yesterday morning. I promised several people that I would post it here so they could see the completed painting so here it is.

The legendry detective Furlock Holmes is busy investigating another crime scene where fine art has been appreciated a little too literally! Furlock uses his trusted magnifying glass to search for the smallest clue that might lead him to the cupcake tasting criminal. But while he is caught up in the fine details of the case, is he missing the bigger picture?

and yes, the painting is sold. One of the organisers fell in love with it as I was painting it at the park and has reserved it.  

Create-Ted

For all of us that love Teddy bears you might not know that we actually owe huge thanks to an artist for its creation as well as Teds namesake Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt.

For those who do not know the story…On November 14, 1902, Theodore Roosevelt attended a bear hunt in Mississippi. During the hunt, Roosevelt came upon a wounded young bear and ordered a mercy killing because he hated to see him suffer. The Washington Post ran an editorial cartoon created by the political cartoonist Clifford K. Berryman that illustrated the event. At first Berryman drew the bear as a fierce animal but later he redrew the bear making it a cuddly cub. The cartoon and the story it told became popular and within a year, the cartoon bear became a toy for children called the teddy bear.

This painting, while not depicting the event specifically, celebrates the idea behind it…. I wanted to capture the focus, imagination and thought that goes into a painting as the artist brings their ideas to life (quite literally in this case) on the paper.

Thank you Paul for agreeing to be my model for this painting. I really appreciate it and I hope I captured even just a little of your wonderfully creative spirit, and the care and thought you put into each painting you do.

Transparent Watercolour 22 inches by 15.75 on Arches 140lb cold press paper. 

Ona

Caffeinate-Ted!

Poor 'Caffeinate-Ted' is trying to study for his exams but he has left it all to the last minute! He is now desperately trying to stay awake and is resorting to coffee, chocolate and cookies to help keep those eyes open while he studies.

Will these desperate measures be enough for him to pass his exams in the morning? ... or will the caffeine fix wear off and sleep deprivation take over?

Transparent watercolour 25.5 inches by 16 inches on Arches 140lb cold press.

Ona

Mist-Ted

Here's another miniature...

My curious little Ted wants to see into our world in the study or living room because its rainy inside his painting world. He has come really close to the glass to see us and to dream of warm cosy fires and hugs, but the glass keeps misting up. Humidity can be such a problem sometimes!

 Mist-Ted wipes away a small section with his paw so he can see you all.  The painting is 2 and 3/4 inches by 4 and 7/16 inches and its painted on Fabriano hot press paper.

Ona

Cavort-Ted!

Over the last few days  I've  been working on a couple ofTed series miniatures.

I made the mistake of telling one of my small Teds that if he let me paint him he might become famous and hang in somebodies home one day or maybe even a gallery. Well, as you can imagine Ted was very excited about this.  I think that maybe I should have explained that I meant the painting of him would be hung in a frame, not him. Don't you? 

 Each of the  small paintings is 4.25 by 4.5 inches in size.

 Just for fun...Can you think of a Ted name for each individual painting? Let me know your ideas because the best few will receive a Ted card in the mail :)

Content-Ted

Being Content-Ted leads to such inner peace. Transparent watercolour 23.5 by 15 inches.

May your dreams tonight be filled with happy memories that leave you feeling contented too.

Ona

This was going to be 'Compact-Ted '

...I decided to do another miniature watercolour for my -Ted series. I carefully selected my Ted so, when painted, he would be 1/6th of his actual size which is the typical reduction for miniature work and then drew out a space that was 3 and 5/8 inches by 2 and 1/8 inches in size. The problem was Ted just didn't want to stay compact-Ted into such a small space.... he is much too keen on getting a hug instead

I guess I will have to call the painting 'Extricate-Ted' instead :)

Ona

Incriminate-Ted!

Thank you for your patience. It's taken a while for me to finish all that fur and sticky maple syrup but it's finally completed. Now it's up to you my selected jurors. The fate of this small bear lies in your hands. Is he guilty of stealing the maple syrup from Quebec in August of last year or has he been framed?

There is no doubt that this small bear loves maple syrup but was this just an innocent find on his part that he just couldn't resist? or had he deliberately stashed away the stolen maple syrup and was caught as he tried to 'dispose' of the evidence?

 

Please consider the evidence very carefully and give your verdict.

Ona

Restric-Ted!

This was a lot of fun to do but I admire my friends that do miniatures almost exclusively because it's extremely hard work on the eyes.

 It's tough when you are only given a small size to paint in but it's even tougher, when you are a rather chubby Ted and you're asked to squeeze into such a tiny space!

The actual painting is 2.7 inches by 5 inches. Its photographed here with a double mat.

I think I might frame this one up ready for the studio Tour in October

EDIT: Well, it won't be going to the studio tour because it sold today and will be journeying to its new home in France next week :)

Ona