by Gretchen Shea.
(Near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania USA)
I’ve just started working with metal and I love it!

I found a picture of a bear that we took at our cabin a few years ago. He looks like he is posing just for me! I made a template from the picture and cut it out of copper.
After hammering and patina-ing him, I sanded a bit off so his nose would be lighter, just like a real black bear.

Gretchen Shea
Grandmother’s Desk Handcrafted Jewelry

What a fun way to use a photo to inspire a metal work of art! Your bear is so well done, Gretchen – especially the fur texture and the fading on the muzzle. It’s very realistic. Thanks for sharing this neat, creative piece with us! 🙂
Love it! My husbands family used to have a camp in the Adirondacks and we got visiting bears a lot. Clever way to use a pic!!
We live in rural Montana and this is an absolute perfect depiction of a brown bear. Will you make this into a brooch?
Great design!!
I love how you turned the subject of your photos into a piece of art! It’s fantastic!
It is wonderful how inspiration comes from so many sources, even a photography. Thanks for sharing.
This is fab !