Here's December 16th's Polar Bear Art Advent Calendar

Wise Eyes For Troubled Times is Today’s Painting

Inspired by the beautiful, intelligent polar bear that enjoys the solitude, wonder and beauty of its arctic night journey. The bear in this painting gives us a “look”. We know what we have to do, that inner strength, that fortitude, it’s there. The original oil painting is a 6" round canvas, a portal into the polar bear world, and round like our beautiful planet. It is attractively framed in a black, and is wired, ready to hang. To see or purchase the original artwork , please click Shop Original Art

A Favourite Colour for a Favourite Animal

The Blue Prince at a Crossroad

"Blue Prince" is the Spanish, French and Italian reference for "Prince Charming". And this polar bear is definitely that. Blue is the world's favourite colour & is associated with nature. It makes you feel good to look at blue. Deep blue symbolizes intelligence, dignity, and authority.
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This bear attends looks to the right towards the future, but is also standing solidly in place. His past and future fates are at a crossroad. With action - for example, reducing carbon emissions & single use plastic use, as well as turning down the thermostat -the future ahead for this bear is not to be simply the stuff or folklore (you know, once upon a time, there was this great white bear.) Action, means the polar landscape, polar animals, and the rest of the planet will have a fairy tale ending.
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Edges are painted black. Wired, ready to hang.
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30" x 40" x 1.5"
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$1900 CAD Free shipping to Canada. Contact me

Curb-side delivery available for those in the Greater Toronto area.

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Polar Bear Asea With The Stars and The Northern Lights

This round polar bear painting is created as if a portal into a polar bear’s world.

But where you are is up to your imagination. Are you gazing through a submersible’s window at a polar bear afloat in the sea? Or like in a Dr. Who adventure, do you gaze our from your Tardis like box, at a celestial bear?

Whether a a real bear or a spiritual one, in the sea or in the sky, who or what do you think it so calmly observing?

On earth, the polar bear is a star in its own right. Apex predator of the north, highly intelligent, powerful and beautifully adapted for its environment. There is wisdom in the solitary polar bear journey - where energy is reserved for when it is most needed.

For more information about this painting please contact me

Asea with the Stars and The Northern Lights ©Christine Montague Round oil painting on canvas. 6” dia. plus Frame.

Taking Shape: New Cat Painting Begins

A new giant cat is emerging from the dark in my latest oil and oil stick painting - seen here in my studio at the Williams Mill.

The Colour Shaper tool is again proving useful to both add and remove paint creating great fur texture. Read all about the Forsaline & Starr Colour Shaper & how to use it here.

Mini Art Lesson Next Step Underpainting to Blocking in Colour for Oil painting

"Wishing It was His Turn To Go"Christine Montague 2009

"Cat Mysteries- The Visitor""Blocking in Color Copyright Christine Montague 2009

"Wishing it Was His Turn To Go" At this stage, I am adding color to the monotone under painting (see previous blogs). Some artists complete small color studies before they begin their work, but I am figuring out my palette as I go. The teal in the screen door at the right will compliment the  with the yellowish bricks on the right. The reddish brown of the upturned picnic table and houses across the street will compliment and play against the greens of the grass and figures t- shirt. Because I didn't have the tonal values properly worked out in the under painting (remember I forgot to stain the panel for my mid  tones)  adding this light layer of colour did not improve the situation. As well as I painted quickly I have lost a lot of detail - like the birds and fence posts. Not to worry- details are like the cherry on the cake - saved for last, rather than first.

Tomorrow, I will add some more detail to the person- I want to start "connecting" with him by bringing him into more into focus, & making him more real to me (like developing a character when you write). I also want to get that division of dark and light in there. When i squint at the painting the "L" shape (an L on its back) of the deck railing , t-shirt and screen door should be very dark - in shadow. The band of fencing should be lighter- more mid tones. The "L" (and L facing down) of the brick wall and sky should be light. I also want to get the birds placed back in .

"Cat Mysteries- The Visitor" Still in the mood to paint, and should be removing my artist cap for chief cook and bottle washer with four hungry people arriving home expecting their dinner, I quickly dash out the darks and some of the colour for Cat Mysteries. More fun than more serious subject and detailed work, that's for sure!