Kodiak Brown

There is a small story behind "Kodiak Brown" that I would like to share. 

Some stages of painting are pretty unattractive, really. And that was the case, when I had finished the acrylic layer. I sent it to two of my artist friends, and told them it was done and I was calling it Kanye West. You could have heard crickets chirping, as they processed this bit of info, undoubtedly trying to figure out how they could, nicely, tell me that my painting was ugly as sin, and that was a stupid name. 

This is that photo:

 

The reason for the name was because the poor man was in the news a lot, and didn't seem to be doing really well. I didn't learn till later that he associates himself with bears. As the painting improved, I told them that Kanye was in therapy and improving all the time.

Obviously, I couldn't name the painting Kanye West, so I ran through variations on that, such as Looking (Kanye) West, or The Painting Formerly Known as Kanye West (giving a nod to Prince at the same time), but, finally settling on Kodiak Brown, which she is. Yes, she is a girl bear, not a boy. It's kind of hard to tell, when they are sitting down, and the name should be "Kodiak Brown Betty", but it isn't. 

So, that's the story.