The Backyard Bear
Arts and Crafts

Its been a few months since my last post. I've been busy making/painting/designing items for the craft sales I'll be in this summer.  I'll be at the Bala Craft and Antique sale on June 27/28 and the Baysville Walkabout on July 25.  I can't wait. 

I've been painting wildlife on driftwood which I've been collecting from the Muskoka River.  I'm also making birdhouses which I am testing to make sure they can stand the outside weather.  They are natural looking but I'm not a bird so I have to make sure they withstand the weather if they are to be used outside.  I've got 4 of them in various testing arrangements.   I've found that with a coat of clearcoat they seem to withstand the rain and snow (gak...yes snow in April!).  They would look nice on a porch.  If you don't want swallows to start living in them while on the porch you could always plug the hole.  So far I have 16 for sale and hope to have lots more made before the craft sales.  .  Various natural items decorate these cool looking birdhouses....sticks, birchbark, vines, pine needles. 

The driftwood paintings are fun to do  I've been painting seagulls, raccoons, fish and my cat.  Maybe someone out there would like a portrait of their pet on driftwood? 

Here are a few pictures  of the many things I've been working and the reason why I've been so busy and not blogging!

This is my cat Marabou checking out her portrait.

Seagulls

Natural Birdhouses

If your interested in any of my paintings just send me at email! 

Till the next time...