Untitled bear painting by Takeuchi Seiho

• Imagine yourself in this scene. What temperature is it? What can you here, see, smell, and feel? Are you afraid of the bear? What country are you in? Imagine you could follow this bear for a whole day without being noticed. Describe a day in the life of this bear. Illustrate your report.
• This bear looks like it is going somewhere. What in the painting gives this sense of movement? (The pad of the back left paw is visible as if in mid-step, we see the bear from behind, as if it is moving away from us, the nose is pointed as if following a scent)
  -How would you describe the bear’s movement? Is it moving fast or slowly? Does it make heavy footprints or light ones? Do its feet make any noise?
  -Bears can move very quickly – some can run as fast as a horse when they want to. But even though they appear to be lumbering along they cover a great deal of territory in a day.
  -See if you can move like this bear. You don’t have to get down on all fours, but try to move your body in the way you imagine this bear is moving his.
  -You could even find some appropriate music and choreograph a class bear dance!
• Japanese artists, like the one who painted this work of art, are renowned for their ability to capture the essence of an image in very few lines. We know that this is a bear, even though there are not many details drawn, just a suggestion of a foot, an eye, an ear. The artist has barely even touched the background, but somehow we know the bear is walking through snow.
  -Using a Japanese brush and ink or water-based paint, try your hand at brush painting.
  -Practice first to get the feel of the brush.
  -When you are ready, picture in your mind the image you want to paint. -See it on the paper.
  -Start with light, or watered down paint first, then add the darker areas. -Study your work after every few strokes to see if you really need to add more.
  -Use a finer brush or pen to add thin lines if necessary.
  -You can add more lighter tones, but only if you need them.
  -Show your work to someone else and ask what sort of feeling your work communicates. Is it the feeling you were going for?