THE FIRST BEAR
One Opportunity. Three Bears. An Ongoing Collaboration.
What started as a design proposal for a single sculpture became a creative relationship with Yo-Chi, with three hand-painted Yo-Chi Bears at Tri Plaza, Semaphore Beach and Prospect.
Client
Yo-Chi
Location
Adelaide, South Australia
Services
Sculpture painting, illustration & localised design
First Bear
September 2024
01 — TRI PLAZA
A Disco Bear, and Our First Sculpture
It started with an invitation from Book an Artist to submit a design proposal for the new Yo-Chi store at Tri Plaza. The brief gave artists creative freedom, with a few key requirements: connect with the local area, use colours that complement the Yo-Chi brand, and reflect the disco theme of the new venue and its spinning disco ball.
We had painted canvases, murals and walls, but never a sculpture, and it was our first time competing with other local artists for a major branded artwork. Our concept gave the bear a colourful, playful personality and 80s-inspired disco clothing, designed to work alongside the disco ball. Our proposal was selected, and we had the chance to create our first Yo-Chi Bear.
FROM WALLS TO SCULPTURE
Learning to Paint in 360 Degrees
We studied the existing Yo-Chi Bears and how they had been finished, then planned an artwork that had to work from every side, not just from the front.
1. The blank sculpture
The bear arrived raw and grey, ready for surface preparation and a protective base.
2. Base colours
Day one focused on preparation and blocking in the base colours with high-quality water-based acrylic paints.
3. Details and character
Day two was about building up the patterns, lettering and details that bring the character to life.
THE FIRST YO-CHI BEAR
From Flat Walls to a 3D Character
After about two days of painting, the finished bear became the hero of the new venue: playful, colourful and completely at home in the Yo-Chi environment.
It was personal, too. We had been Yo-Chi customers long before this project, and my family are big Yo-Chi fans, so seeing our artwork become part of a place we already loved made it even more special.
02 — SEMAPHORE BEACH
A Fresh Identity for a Beachside Bear
The first bear opened the door to the next project. Yo-Chi asked us to refresh an existing bear at Semaphore Beach and give it a new identity connected to its location.
We developed a beach-inspired concept with coastal imagery, local beach references, Yo-Chi elements and brand colours. The finished bear received great feedback from the client, including managers visiting from other states.
03 — PROSPECT
Bringing Yo-Chi Home
Then came a particularly meaningful email: Yo-Chi asked us to paint the Prospect bear. Prospect is where we live, so we wanted this one to feel like a local character, not just a copy of the brand.
The bear wears a Prospect Vibes shirt, Sharing the Chi messaging, leopard-print pants and nature-inspired details, with local phrases and playful touches throughout.
04 — BEYOND THE BEARS
An Ongoing Creative Relationship
Beyond the three main projects, we have also touched up and refreshed other Yo-Chi Bears around Adelaide, giving existing sculptures a little extra attention when they need it.
From a two-day experiment in painting our first sculpture to becoming artists trusted to bring Yo-Chi Bears to life across Adelaide.
FROM THE CLIENT
“Outstanding work as always! Always a positive experience working with Diego!”
Yo-Chi
Google review
YOUR PROJECT
Have a Character That Needs a Personality?
Whether it’s a sculpture, a mural or a branded artwork, we’ll help bring your brand to life with hand-painted work people notice.