After painting my robot skate deck last week, I really wanted to try another. But I wanted to do something completely different. I just couldn't come up with an idea Then, yesterday morning, a student said to me, "I want to paint animals in suits." In my mind I envisioned well dressed creatures in Victorian fashion, but upon further questioning, I discovered my student meant animals in "space suits." I told him to go with his idea, and I would go with mine. I found some reference of animals and vintage Victorian photos, then began sketching. Soon came a pencil sketch a stoic bear in a boiler hat. I liked him and decided to place him in the middle of the skate deck. At some point in the painting process, I began referring to him as "Papa Bear," which reminded me of the story of Goldilocks, and then I realized he needed a wife and son. The whole idea developed in a very free-flowing way. I enjoyed the process, but have one big problem with the result . . . what skateboarder in his right mind wants three Victorian bears on his skate deck? I mean, if you've ever stood long enough near a skate park that skaters aren't exactly into children's rhymes. What was I thinking? Still, I think there is something here I might explore in future paintings . . . on canvas.