drawing a bear – step by step

I have been working on a commission of a drawing of a bear. I created him from a number of different online images to get the fur colour and body angle I had in mind.

I remembered to take photos step by step. (some of the photos are a little out of focus and others with the shadow of the camera.) The bear was drawn over a long weekend and has been handed over to the group who commissioned him. I will share with you the final version on a poster when I receive it.

I always start by drawing the eyes . If I don’t capture the character on the page then, the rest of the drawing is not goingto work, no matter how good it is.

Watercolour pencils are so wonderful for the creating texture of the bear’s fur. I can get a lot of depth and detail.

Faber Castell watercolour pencils

  • Light Chrome Yellow
  • Light Yellow Ochre
  • Raw Umber
  • Bistre
  • Walnut Brown
  • Burnt Umber
  • Schwarz
  • Warm Grey II
  • Burnt Ochre
  • Orange Glaze

2 thoughts on “drawing a bear – step by step

  1. Marylin Smith

    He’s gorgeous! I dont know if it would work in your medium but I recall when I did folk art years ago using acrylics that a very effective way to render fur was to flick paint in fur colours (ie the goldens, the browns, the greys, the oranges) one colour on top of another (using a toothbrush) having first laid a base colour of pale yellow and put in darkening of the shadow areas (underbelly, the armpits, the eye sockets, the inner ears) Feel free to play with it!

  2. lolasmith

    An excellent idea to show step by step and the end result is just so furry. His character shines through in his face. This would have taken you many hours over your long week end. Wonderful!

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