© 2024 Randy Schmidt
I live in New Bern NC. This is the sister city of Bern Switzerland. Bern in Swiss means bear. Our town has >100 bear statues made out of fiberglass adorning the greater New Bern area. We already had a 3 foot tall wood carved bear in the front yard. I wanted a bear for the back yard.
Note: Bernie was on TV! To see the video, click here.
Was going to do a steel bear with welding and rebar but found Jonni’s site via Pinterest and saw someone else did a backyard bear based on her bear head template so decided to go that route.
Mine is very different however.
I used PVC pipe from the armature and tennis shoes for the feet.
I doubled the size of the head by printing on 17×22 card stock paper at a local print shop.
I used a flexible rubber pipe insulation tube that I shaped into a circle, duct taped it together and tied it around his waist to give him some heft – referred to now as a bear belly (not a beer belly).
I used whiskey bottles just above his feet for some width and stability. I used beer and soda cans around his arms. I used cardboard and newspaper for his body.
Next I did 2 layers of paper Mache.
Then fiberglass resin and cloth (yucky toxic stuff). It gave him some strength and water resilience. After than I put bondo on in a rough manner to look like fur. I used Epoxie Sculpt for his face and paws and feet, including 2.5” long claws I found on Amazon.
During the paper mache process he stood erect outside and wind knocked him flat on his face causing some damage that I repaired. I took his feet apart and redid them adding beer bottles to make them wider and wrapped them with cardboard and duct tape and shims. Finally got his to stand up stable. And took more caution exposing him to wind.
Then I applied fiberglass resin and cloth (yucky toxic stuff). It gave him some strength and water resilience.
After than I put bondo on in a rough manner to look like fur.
I used Epoxie Sculpt for his face and paws and feet, including 2.5” long claws I found on Amazon.
I am avid Pickleball player and USA Pickleball Ambassador. My friends all said the bear needs to hold a Pickleball paddle. I used a PVC pipe in his hand so I can a paddle in and out of his hand – or anything else I want to hold depending on the season or event.
I finished Bernie with exterior latex paint.
Then I positioned him leaning against a tree. My concern is how to keep him upright when heavy winds blow. I used fishing line to tie his paw to the tree. I also his waist to the tree and drove 2 rebars into the ground and tied his feet to the rebar. I have tent stakes and lines ready to secure him on 4 sides in the event a 40-60 MPH blow is predicted.
I’m having an unveiling party and the local TV station is coming to cover the story. Bernie will be on TV!
Bernie made the local ABC and Fox News and the station’s website
https://www.wcti12.com/news/local/bear-ing-the-spirit-of-creativity-craven-co-man-introduces-bernie-the-bear
Bernie is now on TV! To see the video, click here.
We have a great reveal party and our story will be broadcast on the local ABC news in the morning tomorrow. Here are some cool shots from the event.
https://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-XBHgKs
Hi! Great job on the bear!!! It would definitely catch my attention if I was in the backyard! I have not attempted anything yet, but want to soon. (Nothing that big either! :)) You had it all figured out nicely! Again, great job!!!
Thanks, it was fun though challenging and messy, had to give up garage for the bear instead of the car for a while. Life always gets in the way and delay progress
Oh how fantastic! You did a really superb job. I’ve been saving paper, cardboard, and scraps for some time now to use inside paper mache pieces – I’m feeling inspired. It looks like your little dog is quite curious :-). It’s very nice to meet you Bernie!
Wow! What a magnificent piece of work! I just love the way artists are so imaginative in items they use to repurpose art! Thank you for sharing your process step by step. Can’t wait to see future items you make!
Wonderful 🙂 love seeing the steps you took to Bernie’s birth ! Thank you for sharing 🙂
WoW, good job, Randy! Respect en kind regards from the Netherlands!
Bonjour Randy,
Bernie est magnifique un grand bravo pour ce travail exceptionnel!!
Excellente idée le “bondo” pour sa fourrure!!
Longue vie à Bernie,
Bonne continuation et encore merci pour ce partage 🙂
Fabulous job and inspiring! I was about to throw my newspaper stash away, but now I might carry on….
Gorgeous 🙂 so much fun making these sculptures, and what a pleasure enjoying them afterwards, well done Randy x
Randy, Bold move switching from “rebar and welding” to PVC pipe and beer bottles!
Stick with Jonni and there’s no telling what you’ll tackle next. And if you get stuck, there is a world-wide group of experimenters, experts and beginners around here who will help you out.
I think Bernie needs a pickleball partner.
Thanks, thinking maybe making a Pickle playing Pickleball next, maybe 4 feet tall
Looks awesome!! Great job!
What a huge undertaking! Love how the dog is checking it out. Really fun and a nice j ob.
Thanks it was a challenge
Love Bernie!! I just finished Reggi Rabbit for my garden
Love to see the link to Reggi
Bernie’s great! I hope you’ll let us know how he does living outside.
Will do, expect he should weather it. I’ve done a bit to keep him vertical
Great use of many different materials, Randy! If they show Bernie on the TV station’s online channel, I hope you’ll share the link so we can see it. 🙂
WOW! Very creative and lots of physical work. Good job. Randy!
Will do. Reporter is showing up to unveiling with a camera man. Hope we make the cut and get on the news locally