Two new drawings in one week! Maybe not sustainable, but I’ll ride this wave of inspiration while it lasts:)
As I was doing research before I started this piece I learned that bears are often seen as a symbol of strength, and for good reason. If you study the anatomy of a bear, their musculature is seriously impressive! Looking through reference photos, I was especially drawn to this particular subject’s sense of confidence and self-assurance–I especially like his cheeky little smile:)
This colored pencil painting process has become my go-to. For hairy subjects like this guy and the lion I shared earlier, I also incorporate a technique I learned years ago where I use a sharp metal point to “draw” the details that I want to stand out, like the individual hairs and fur. This creates a texture that helps keep the details from getting lost when I add the color.
Even though bears are one of my dad’s favorite animals I don’t remember ever drawing one before now. Even though the fur was a challenge it was a lot of fun to work on!