Bear Designs – Tarjan Studio

Harley Bear

Garment illustration by Janet Tarjan Erl

Harley Bear

At the time this design was created, my husband and I owned Trekker Designs, an apparel decorating company, and one of the things we did was to screen print our designs onto apparel products and novelty gifts and sell them to our wholesale clients. One of our biggest clients was the Black Bear Diner Corporation. This design was one of the many black bear artworks we created which were printed on clothing, mugs, and cards that we sold to Black Bear Diner to sell in their diners and to be worn by employees. This design was very popular at the Black Bear Diner Corporation’s Bullhead City, Arizona diner. The adjacent city, Laughlin, Nevada, had an annual river run event for motorcycles, so this design was popular during that event. This design ended up being the most popular design we sold to the diners.

Harley loves the wind in his hair, the open road, and hangin’ with his buds. Check out Harley’s trick scoot. With a bear head headlight, bear claw rivets on the saddlebags, and other bear details, Harley’s got a truly unique scoot.

Painted in watercolor, scanned into the computer, floated, graphics, colors, effects, and text were done in Photoshop.

Reproduction Available on Etsy.

Note: Image Watermark of Copyright and/or Website are NOT on the Original.

Trekker Bear

At the time this design was created, my husband and I owned Trekker Designs, an apparel decorating company, and one of the things we did was to screen print our designs onto apparel products and novelty gifts and sell them to our wholesale clients. One of our biggest clients was the Black Bear Diner Corporation. This design was one of the many black bear artworks we created which were printed on clothing, mugs, and cards that we sold to Black Bear Diner to sell in their diners and to be worn by employees. I thought it would make a cute, anthropomorphic bear design of my favorite recreation activity-hiking! Unfortunately, though I thought this would make a great shirt for the diners to sell, the corporation decided not to carry this design.

As all bears know, if you go not, you know not. This happens to be my personal quote, so I said it is an ancient bear proverb in the design. It’s insightful knowledge because you can’t experience the world unless you get out and see it.

Painted in watercolor, scanned into the computer, floated, graphics, colors, effects, and text were done in Photoshop.

Reproduction Available on Etsy.

Note: Image Watermark of Copyright and/or Website are NOT on the Original.

Celebrate Life’s Pleasures

Celebrate Life's Pleasures

At the time this design was created, my husband and I owned Trekker Designs, an apparel decorating company, and one of the things we did was to screen print our designs onto apparel products and novelty gifts and sell them to our wholesale clients. One of our biggest clients was the Black Bear Diner Corporation. This design was one of the many black bear artworks we created which were printed on clothing, mugs, and cards that we sold to Black Bear Diner to sell in their diners and to be worn by employees. As the diners began to expand into California, I thought it would make a cute, anthropomorphic bear design of two bears picnicking in a classic California wine country scene with an old Airstream trailer and classic old car in the background.

Whatever your pleasures may be, do them as often as possible – preferably 32 weeks a year or more. As these wine loving connoisseur bears have discovered, it will be the best elixir you’ll ever find.

Painted in watercolor, scanned into the computer, floated, graphics, colors, effects, and text were done in Photoshop.

Reproduction Available on Etsy.

Note: Image Watermark of Copyright and/or Website are NOT on the Original.

Big Dogs Make Great Chairs

At the time this design was created, my husband and I owned Trekker Designs, an apparel decorating company, and one of the things we did was to screen print our designs onto apparel products and novelty gifts and sell them to our wholesale clients. One of our biggest clients was the Black Bear Diner Corporation. This design was one of the many black bear artworks we created which were printed on clothing, mugs, and cards that we sold to Black Bear Diner to sell in their diners and to be worn by employees. I created this design when I saw a very short man in the grocery store who was wearing a Big Dog T-shirt that said, “That’s Mister Big Dog to You!” I thought, what a rude shirt to wear for such a size impaired person, so I figured I would respond with a design that would put those Big Dog fans in their rightful squashed place.

Dogs are definitely man’s best friend – most of the time, but sometimes they can get a bit too much attitude. When this happens, it’s time to politely put them in their proper places by sitting on them. In doing so you’ll discover, as this bear did, Dogs do make soft, comfy chairs. If you have issues with the knarly, stuck up attitude of people who wear Big Dogs apparel, then here is the perfect way to politely show them who is boss. Bears definitely rule. In fact, sitting on those Big Dogs is quite nice, as this bear discovered.

Painted in watercolor, scanned into the computer, floated, graphics, colors, effects, and text were done in Photoshop.

Note: Image Watermark of Copyright and/or Website are NOT on the Original.

Bearelling Along

Bearreling Along

At the time this design was created, my husband and I owned Trekker Designs, an apparel decorating company, and one of the things we did was to screen print our designs onto apparel products and novelty gifts and sell them to our wholesale clients. One of our biggest clients was the Black Bear Diner Corporation. This design was one of the many black bear artworks we created which were printed on clothing, mugs, and cards that we sold to Black Bear Diner to sell in their diners and to be worn by employees. The old truck in the illustration belonged to Bruce Dean, one of the Black Bear Diner Corporation owners. I often saw the truck parked in front of the Mt. Shasta diner, so I thought it would make a cute, anthropomorphic bear design to fill an old classic truck full of bears.

Give a bunch of bears an old pickup truck and, sure enough, they’ll go bearreling along looking for some tasty food. These are the Park Service’s Nightmare Bears who finally figured out you can’t loiter around waiting for handouts, you gotta drive to where the food is.

Painted in watercolor, floated, and effects and text done in Photoshop.

Note: Image Watermark of Copyright and/or Website are NOT on the Original.

Bearski

At the time this design was created, my husband and I owned Trekker Designs, an apparel decorating company, and one of the things we did was to screen print our designs onto apparel products and novelty gifts and sell them to our wholesale clients. One of our biggest clients was the Black Bear Diner Corporation. This design was one of the many black bear artworks we created which were printed on clothing, mugs, and cards that we sold to Black Bear Diner to sell in their diners and to be worn by employees. The first Black Bear Diner store was in Mt. Shasta, California, so I did this cute, anthropomorphic, skiing bear design since skiing is one of the many favorite recreation activities that are so popular in that mountain, tourist town.

Vat ist a Bearski? Bearskis are der best skiers who bearrel down der steepest and der fastest slopes with big bear bravery. Jah, sometimes they drink too many brewskis, which might explain why they ski so fluid, but at least you can’t say they bearly make it down der slopes. Go bears!
Painted in watercolor, scanned into the computer, floated, graphics, colors, effects, and text were done in Photoshop.

Note: Image Watermark of Copyright and/or Website are NOT on the Original.

Boarder Bear

At the time this design was created, my husband and I owned Trekker Designs, an apparel decorating company, and one of the things we did was to screen print our designs onto apparel products and novelty gifts and sell them to our wholesale clients. One of our biggest clients was the Black Bear Diner Corporation. This design was one of the many black bear artworks we created which were printed on clothing, mugs, and cards that we sold to Black Bear Diner to sell in their diners and to be worn by employees. The first Black Bear Diner store was in Mt. Shasta, California, so I did this cute, anthropomorphic, snowboarding bear design since snowboarding is one of the many favorite recreation activities that are so popular in that mountain, tourist town.

Snowboarding is the perfect sport to bare all your wildness and have fun, but it isn’t a sport for wary bears. It takes bravery to bearrel fast and bear hard in the turns. This cool, detailed snowboarding bear is Bearin’ Hard at its favorite outdoor snow sport, and it is a real hotshot.

Painted in watercolor, scanned into the computer, floated, graphics, colors, effects, and text were done in Photoshop.

Note: Image Watermark of Copyright and/or Website are NOT on the Original.

Bear Clan

At the time this design was created, my husband and I owned Trekker Designs, an apparel decorating company, and one of the things we did was to screen print our designs onto apparel products and novelty gifts and sell them to our wholesale clients. One of our biggest clients was the Black Bear Diner Corporation. This design was one of the many black bear artworks we created which were printed on clothing, mugs, and cards that we sold to Black Bear Diner to sell in their diners and to be worn by employees. This artwork is a realistic representation of Black Bears, so I showed several different views of these awesome animals. I added the beaded satchel to give the design a Native American quality.

Painted in watercolor, scanned into the computer, floated, graphics, colors, effects, and text were done in Photoshop.

Note: Image Watermark of Copyright and/or Website are NOT on the Original.

The Three Bears

These three black bears are a stately symbol of strength, intelligence, and adaptation. This is a burly, shaggy trio. I added the bead design to add a unique look.

Painted in watercolor, scanned into the computer, floated, graphics, colors, effects, and text were done in Photoshop.

Note: Image Watermark of Copyright and/or Website are NOT on the Original.

Almost Bearadise

This design was commissioned by Black Bear Diner Corporation owners, Bob and Laurie Manley, who wanted an apparel design for T-shirts to sell in their diners and to be worn by employees. They wanted a cute, anthropomorphic bear fishing on a float tube.

Just where is Bearadise? Well, its somewhere in the country where bears can relax on float tubes and fish for fat trout while they enjoy the beautiful country scenery. It’s definitely bear paradise!

Painted in watercolor, floated, and added text and effects in Photoshop.

Note: Image Watermark of Copyright and/or Website are NOT on the Original.