Since 2010, more than a hundred Bear Town Bears have popped up around the city of New Bern.
Originally what was going to be 10 bears turned into 50 for that tricentennial and now it has just kept crawling along since then.
Each of them with their own unique designs stationed outside of different businesses across various locations.
It’s really been a really fun process to watch because the businesses are really supporting living artists. The community really loves to find these bears.
Now, there’s a New Bern in town.
We have not gotten around to unveiling the hundredth just two weeks ago and then Scoop will be one hundred and one.
I think the bear came out really nicely.
Ashley McDaniel is the artist behind Scoop, WCTI News 12s newest mascot.
I usually tend to lean towards about two months with like work and life balance.
She says she put a lot of time into him, too.
The first thing that I’ll do is start sketching it out with a pencil and kinda get everything laid out and then I start with basic paint colors for like an underpaint.
After the underpainting is finished you kind of start adding those details.
And when Ashley says details, she means details.
From his fur to his camera, and even his microphone.
I started with a paper mâché mold….
That and an epoxy mold mixture brought the 3D detail to life.
Well, what we do is we tack it off with a sticky rag.”
But like all the bears around town, Scoop wasn’t done until he got his shine.
We’ve got some that are what, thirteen years old.
WIlliam Mahoney, Bear Auto Body owner, has polished and shined dozens of Bear Town Bears.
Make sure there’s no dust or dirt on it. And spray it with clear in the booth then we leave it sitting for a whole weekend.
And the finished results come out to look like this, that and this.
WCTI’s newest reporter and mascot, Scoop.
Front and center.
I think it’s really nice to be able to paint bears for the community.
It’s really fun. Each one does have a story and it’s just a lot of fun to be a part of.
