Stickers and prints featuring native Ontario birds, designed and drawn with LUV in Sarnia
Hiya! My name is Kyraith (K-ear-aith) & I’m the bear behind Healing Brown Bear. Yes, Kyraith is a unique name, and according to Facebook it seems I’m the only one who has it. I could tell you all about where my name came from, but I’d rather leave that for when you see me out & about at your local vendor market scene. Instead, I want to tell you a bit about me & HBB.
Healing Brown Bear was born out of multiple, really annoying layoffs. It became pretty clear to me that sustainable employment through someone else just wasn’t going to be an option for me, and while others may choke up from the fear of that realization, I found it exhilarating. I knew I needed to find my craft, and after years of art experience in the classical techniques of acrylic, watercolour, conté, & pastel, I found myself drawn (pun intended) to digital art. Not only was it fun to discover a whole new medium, but it was also a way to create without the financial burden of investing in costly materials like canvas’ & paints.
I began drawing birds in 2020, when the pandemic gave me the chance to slow down & better connect with my natural world. I found it incredibly soothing to focus on something outside of the current affairs of the world, and with diligent work on my style I began sharing my pieces with friends. When my friends started asking to purchase prints & stickers I thought “wait? Would other people want to as well?” – turns out they did.
That’s when Healing Brown Bear took on a whole new meaning, not only was the Brown Bear a deeply personal association for me & my continual healing journey, now it was going to be the name under which I shared my art. My first vendor season started off with a bang in 2023 and since then I haven’t stopped creating. Birds are really my jam, but I have to say I love all the native species we share the amazing Turtle Island with, and I think that love speaks for itself when you see what I create. I hope you enjoy perusing through the HBB Flock & I can’t wait to see who you choose to join your flock at home.
