Bearpig

I collect pigs and one of them is a bear dressed in a pig costume.  It seemed logical to name him Bearpig and  I thought it would be fun to take Bearpig along with me when I went out photographing.

Photographers always need a project to get them into that creative zone – and I can’t explain why but photographing Bearpig in different situations actually inspires me.  I have been criticized for using Bearpig as a cartoon character and effectively losing some credibility as a photographer but I disagree.  I am not a person who easily takes chances although I do embrace a challenge whole heartedly.  I’m not sure what the difference could be.   Perhaps by taking chances I feel that I risk looking foolish and “less than perfect.”  It seems to me that the word “challenge” has more cachet than “taking a chance”.  In any case (before I completely lose track of the subject,) the Bearpig Project allows me to feel that I can take chances - some of the resulting images make me laugh which is never a bad thing.

Bearpig and the Merry Season of Chocolate

Hubby bought two boxes of Godiva chocolates to give as gifts this holiday season.  One box reached its destination and the other just sat upstairs in all its golden glory.  Every night I would suggest that we tuck into the chocolates and every night the offer was refused.  Bearpig loves the holiday season…he loves the smell of pine, the melting wax from Chanukah candles on his head…it’s all fun and games.  One afternoon Bearpig said that he was sleepy and was going to have a nap.  I looked at Bearpig because he doesn’t like to nap..he thinks he might miss something but he looked innocent.  Too innocent I thought. So I tiptoed upstairs, opened our bedroom door and there he was trying to steal the Godiva’s.

Bearpig surveys the Golden prize and is in awe…

That Bearpig!  Nothing stops him…he’s managed to climb up to the top and now sees the chocolate delights below.

  

                                                                  

                                                                           And this is when he realized that he hadn’t gotten away with it……..

                 

Look at the poor little fellow…he had just started to remove his piggy nose so he could tuck into those wonderful treats and then….busted!  Bearpig is too cute to punish most of the time so I told him I would take a Chocolate season portrait and after the shoot he could have a delicious Godiva truffle as a reward.

     

Happy holidays everyone!!!

Bearpig Meets the Granddaughter

I wonder if  Bearpig thinks that my granddaughter is his cousin.  In any case now that she is becoming so bright and aware even at this young age, I decided it was time for them to meet.  Bearpig is one of those special creatures who thinks like a child but is as smart as a whip.  I bet he could charm Prince Philip and the Queen..she being more easily charmed.  And yet put him with a three month old baby and he was in his element.  Who knows what Bearpig was talking about but she seemed very happy about it…naturally she couldn’t reply except to coo and gurgle and needless to say Bearpig understood every word.  But true to his character, it was a private conversation and he wouldn’t tell me even one word of it…and that’s what makes a Bearpig so lovable.

Bearpig at a Cocktail Party

I remember the days when I was so much younger and I could drink more than two glasses of wine without lurching about.  Metabolism is definitely a tricky thing and Bearpig knows that  I am now a one glass of vino person and he took advantage of it one day. We were at a friend’s cottage and enjoying a wintry afternoon with a glass of wine, some snacks and a roaring fire. The dogs as is their nature asked to go out for a romp and a pee in the snow…I wasn’t gone long and when I returned I saw that Bearpig had been up to his old tricks – being mischievous.  He had sipped some wine and obviously unlike other Bearpigs we have met, could not hold his liquor.  I decided to photograph his antics.  He had nothing to say when I showed him the evidence – he was too busy nursing a hangover.

Bearpigs can be devious…I realize now from the picture below that Bearpig had told Colby that it was time for her four o’clock kick at the can.  He got me out of the house and he got into the booze.

Bearpig Eats Some Ant Poison and Survives

Honestly I just never know  what mischief Bearpig will get into next.  He decided to sample some ant poison and what a shock when I discovered him lying flat out underneath the sink.  I immediately poured some honey down his throat, he sat up and decided it was time for a rollicking hide ‘n go seek game.  What a guy!  (or gal…I still don’t know!)

Bearpig Procrastination

I’ve been talking for quite a long time about creating a story book about Bearpig and so far all I’ve done is the title and underlined it!  Maybe this photo of Bearpig helping to make a pizza will inspire me to at least write a sentence, maybe even a paragraph.  I have to start somewhere – what’s holding me back?