Wait, Is That a Dog or an Otter?
A hand-painted oil portrait “Wait, Is That a Dog or an Otter?” by the Fart studio. If you imagine a bear, this is the derpy, goofy-looking kind.
What the painting shows
The painting shows a brown bear, probably a grizzly, bursting out of rushing, foaming water straight towards the viewer. Its mouth is open, showing teeth, and its dark eyes are set deep in its face. The head is painted in intense reds, oranges and yellows, as if lit by a setting sun or burning with emotion, while lower down the fur turns chocolate brown and black.
Water explodes around the bear: thick white spray, patches of blue and navy, and dozens of thin, flicked drips of white paint. The composition is dynamic, with the motion running from top to bottom and forward, so it feels as if the animal is about to leap out of the canvas.
One interesting detail is the visible grid: black lines run across the whole canvas, with numbered squares from 1 to 13 along the top edge. This is a leftover from the grid method used to transfer a drawing from a photo to the canvas, which the artist chose to leave as part of the painting.
Technique and style
A vertical painting on canvas, applied thickly and expressively with a palette knife and a wide brush, with dripping and splattering inspired by Jackson Pollock's action painting. The expressionist, unnatural colours of the head contrast with the cool blue of the water. The title "Wait, is that a dog or an otter?" is a joke: the animal is so blurred by water and colour that you might wonder whether it is a bear, a dog or an otter.
At a glance
- Medium: oil paint
- Surface: canvas
- Orientation: portrait (vertical)
- Dominant colours: red, orange, yellow, chocolate brown, blue, white
- Subjects: grizzly bear, wildlife, water, splashes, expressionism, drawing grid
Fun fact
During winter dormancy, bears can go for months without urinating. Their bodies recycle urea back into protein, so they do not poison themselves with waste and, as a bonus, they barely lose any muscle. Scientists study this mechanism hoping to find new ways to treat kidney disease and muscle wasting in humans.
Want a similar painting?
The Fart studio paints commissioned artwork: portraits of people and pets, landscapes and absurd scenes like this one. You can order a similar piece featuring grizzly bear, wildlife, water, starring your own pet, a loved one or your favourite place. Just describe your idea in the contact form and attach a photo.