Alaskan Raven Studio

Art in Alaska. Story of an Alaskan artist.

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Did you say Mango Bears?

July 27, 2017 by Raven

Yes, Mango Bears. A friend of a friend suggested the name ‘Mango’ to me during the May First Friday. The name fits like a glove on a paw. The bears approved it and now it’s official. The little paintings that start as whimsical play are now called Mango Bears.

What are Mango Bears? Surprising colors and playful bears with names that suit them. They tell me their names. It’s as clear as a tree falling in the middle of the forest.

My first Mango Bear emerged one day when I was experimenting with different colors on a small canvas. The finished painting made me smile when it greeted me from the studio in the morning. I started a second one right away. I even worked on one in Florida. The colors of the bright pink flowers invaded the canvas and “Tropical Bruin” was born. “Mango Bear: Theo” ran out the door as soon as his paint dried. His Ravenista told me that her whole family enjoys his antics.

What is it about these silly ole bears? I’ve painted for many years. Studied, practiced, struggled, succeeded, failed and tried again. I’ve been encouraged, discouraged but kept coming back. Paint is my language. It is my passion. I love to work on large paintings and make dramatic swooping brushstrokes but when I play with pigment on small canvas and see a small bear face appear, it takes me back to the little girl inside me. She dabbles with paint and loves to see color swirl and mix. Mango Bears make me smile. Do they make you smile too?

Mango Bear: Theodore

His Ravenista family is traveling around the world right now. He is looking forward to their arrival so he can get settled into his new home.

 

Would you like to meet MB Sabrina?

 

Filed Under: Painting Journal

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Raven Ramblings

A Poet’s Homestead

He built the cabin on his homestead in 1947. Lived off the land. Trapped. Survived harsh winters. He was trained as an artist and planned to paint in Alaska but his paints froze so he ‘drew’ with words instead. Prose and poetry earned him awards. Fellowships. National recognition. My friend and I hike around his […]

Prince of the Arctic

Kroma Bear: Prince of the Arctic 6′ x 4′ painting on Sky Cloth by Raven $1500. sold Prince lumbered all the way down to Dallas, Texas to be with his new Ravenistas. I am thrilled they are giving him a good home. I love Texas. My dad was born in that big and beautiful state. […]

More Adventures

contact me with questions or comments

Alaskan Raven Studio
PO Box 80231
Fairbanks, Alaska 99708
USA
alaskanblackbird@yahoo.com

 

Represented by:
Well Street Art Co.
1302 Well Street
Fairbanks, Alaska
907 452-6169

Stephan Fine Arts
939 West 5th Ave.
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
USA
(907) 274-5009
http://www.stephanfinearts.com/

more about Raven

I ventured to Alaska before there was an oil pipeline and fell in love with the gnarly spruce trees, intense weather and mountains I could touch. Very different from the landscape in St. Louis. I was looking for different. The spruce trees: those scraggy, wizened, lanky conifers danced onto the first page of my sketch […]

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