30″x40″, acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas, July 2019, Limited Edition Prints available
‘Maurice’ is part of ManterBolen’s Teddy Bear series. The idea for this painting began with the shiny reflective gold tissue paper with spirals and stars. I decided on red and white to complement the gold, and chose a large white bear from my collection.
Originally, my intention was to blend the white area with pastels and a darker blue for the shadows. As I worked on it, I accidentally outlined parts of the inner shadow in a darker blue-green, and I noticed the geometric shapes in the fur becoming more pronounced. I thought it was effective and decided to go with it. (This sort of experimentation happens in my landscapes all the time.)
The final painting has a commanding presence on the wall; the large size delivers extra impact.