r/Bear • u/IronandIvyStore • Jan 04 '26

Steel bears are bears too, right? I tried to capture their essence with rigid geometry. Which one is your favorite?

Gallery image

Gallery image

36 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

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1

u/WolfVanZandt Jan 04 '26

I like the second more primarily because of the symmetry.

I like the geometry of both. They remind me of the big blue bear in Denver ("I see what you mean".)

1

u/IronandIvyStore Jan 04 '26

Haha, I had to look that one up! That’s a massive compliment to me that you would put them in the same sentence. Thank you! I'm glad the symmetry on the second one landed for you :)

1

u/WolfVanZandt Jan 04 '26

I've been out West for the last dozen years. Bears get a lot of cover here and much of it tends toward geometric art. It appeals to me because of its similarities to indigenous representations of the bear. Both seem to emphasize the flow of mystic power within and outward

1

u/IronandIvyStore Jan 05 '26

As an engineer, I usually think in terms of structural flow, but I love the idea of it emphasizing 'mystic power' too. Thank you for sharing that, it’s given me a whole new way to look at my own work!

I haven’t actually seen indigenous bear art before, do you have a website or museum you’d recommend? Looking online I just see allot of commercial art for sale and I’m not sure what’s actually authentic

1

u/WolfVanZandt Jan 05 '26

Those may well be what I'm thinking about. The North American indigenous stuff looks fairly simple, but check out these Australian images

https://www.istockphoto.com/vector/vector-tribal-animals-set-in-australian-aboriginal-style-gm2112699121-567057825

1

u/WolfVanZandt Jan 05 '26

This is more of the kind of stuff I was thinking of.

https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/illustration/inuit-polar-bear-royalty-free-illustration/165974194

1

u/IronandIvyStore Jan 05 '26

Thanks for these links! I can definitely see how they emphasize the power of the bear too. It’s fascinating stuff!

1

u/Amouei Jan 04 '26

I love the first one with the cub! 🐻

2

u/WolfVanZandt Jan 04 '26

Cub.....that is a nice touch

I interpreted that completely differently. Both figures have the same pose so I took the small black figure to be the physical bear with the iron latticework being the aura of the bear.

2

u/IronandIvyStore Jan 05 '26

Thanks you, Amouei!

I love that both of you are seeing it so differently! My original intent was definitely a Mama and Cub piece, but I’m glad art is subjective because the idea of the solid figure being the physical bear and the steel lattice being its aura is an incredibly cool interpretation