Everyone loves stories filled with unique redemption and creativity! When we face adversity, we as humans long to see the light at the end of the tunnel. When we feel discouraged that we don't have what it takes, we long for encouragement that anything is possible. We want to see beauty in unique ways! In this article, be reminded of these lessons through a furry friend. At the Kuusamo Predator Center in Finland, their largest bear also has a large amount of talent. Meet Juuso, the painting bear.
Juuso is a 10-year-old brown bear weighing a whopping 1,000 pounds. His body is his paintbrush. A wooden table is his easel. His painting style is fun, lighthearted and carefree. His uniqueness is off the charts. His story is heartwarming.
When Juuso was a young cub, he was abandoned by his mama bear. The Kuusamo Predator Center, which shelters predatory animals who have been abandoned as babies, took him in. Not only did the Kuusamo Predator Center take Juuso in and care for him, but they provided him the opportunity to truly make something of himself! How delightful it is that Juuso overcame adversity! If Juuso the bear had never been orphaned, he would not have had the opportunity to become a painter.
If you would like to see Juuso's painting at work, check out this video put on by the Huffington Post:
We can all learn valuable lessons from Juuso.
In seasons of life that take us into great difficulty (such as being orphaned), we can trust that something extraordinary can come from it.
Just because the world tells you it doesn't make sense doesn't mean it isn't possible. The thought of a painting bear doesn't make any sense, right? However, it's possible and is changing the world.
If you don't feel equipped, think outside the box! Juuso doesn't have thumbs to hold a paintbrush the "normal" way, so he uses his entire body! A paint brush certainly can't yield the same results a bear's body does. If Juuso was limited to a brush, his artwork would not have turned out so uniquely.
All proceeds from Juuso's paintings go toward caring for six bears at the Kuusamo Predator Center. His paintings have been priced approximately anywhere between $325 and $2100. You've gotta admit, it isn't every day you walk into someone's home and see artwork completed by a brown bear, so those are likely reasonable prices! If you would like to see the Finnish website with more of Juuso's paintings, click here.
When Spring comes and Juuso comes out of his hibernation, be expectant for more of his artwork to emerge.
Until then, be encouraged that if a bear can paint, you can do anything you set your mind to.
