07/21/2024
Opie Award Memory Bear in Honor of Ryan Taylor
March 15, 1986 – March 18, 2024
"Keeping it Positive – Someone you can always bet on to have a smile on his or her face. Losing doesn’t bring them down because they’re always encouraging others."
Custom Opie 16" Bear are available for pre-order at $100 with a $25 kickback to Dayson for the Opie Award funding. Message me to request your Opie Bear!
A week ago my classmate, Amanda J Carroll, approached me with a request for an Opie Bear to be presented as part of the Opie Award for the SD Governors Cup Walley Tournament. I put my detective skills to work to make the following choices: 1) Camo as his main coloring 2) Incorporate Stanley County colors 3) Celebrate the positive joy escaping into outdoor sports brings.
The image chosen for his stomach is of a young child fishing in their private pond. I chose this as it depicts how the childish delight of Outdoor Sports begins in the pure joy and wonder found in nature. I did not know how fitting this was...Amanda shared how Dayson was to fish his first SD Governors Cup this summer with Opie.
Opie #1 has an offset nose and slightly higher placed eyes...When this was pointed out on Opie Bear #1 to the friends who knew Ryan, they say the face resembles Ryan’s smile and soft eyes. I have learned that if I seem rip off the nose/mouth multiple times attempting to get it sewn up to "my vision"... it repeatedly results in a similar face and it wasn’t meant to be “my” decision. It always blows my mind each time a memory bear captures the person...so far it's 3 for 3.
Thank you Dayson Carroll for honoring Bearific with being part of the Opie Award for the SD Governors Cup Walley Tournament!
~ Sweisson Studios
