An enormous face and a wonderfully surprised, inquisitive expression made this brown bear an irresistible subject to paint. But what makes “Big Face Timmy” particularly memorable is the afternoon spent bringing him to life. During a neighborhood block party outside my house, children bounced around an inflatable castle and raced down a slip-and-slide while I worked on the painting.
Neighbors stopped by to catch up, talk about the artwork, and enjoy the afternoon together.
Once the portrait was finished, I asked one of the children what the bear’s name should be. Without hesitation, the answer was “Timmy.” Originally, the painting was simply going to be called “Big Face,” a fitting description of the bear’s enormous head. But Timmy stuck, and the name became a wonderful reminder of an afternoon filled with painting, neighbors, and community. We can skip the part where a thunderstorm rolled through, and we all got drenched holding down the tents over the food…
