plate no. 8642
Bear and Cubs
William Holbrook Beard, 1864
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering fur texture and creating atmospheric perspective within a cave environment. It also provides practice in depicting light and shadow to create depth and form.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the bears and the cave opening.
- step 02
Establish the light source and map out the areas of light and shadow.
- step 03
Block in the main colors of the cave walls, using darker tones for the interior and lighter tones near the opening.
- step 04
Begin rendering the bears, paying attention to the direction of the fur and the subtle variations in color.
- step 05
Add details to the foreground, including the foliage and any other objects.
- step 06
Refine the details of the cave walls, adding texture and depth with varied brushstrokes.
- step 07
Adjust the values and colors to create a sense of atmosphere and depth.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white
secondary · sap green · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre
Mix burnt umber and raw sienna with varying amounts of white to create the different shades of brown for the bears and cave. Use sap green and yellow ochre for the foliage, and ultramarine blue to create the sky seen through the cave opening.
techniques
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of atmosphere.
- →Failing to create enough contrast between the light and shadow areas.
- →Using colors that are too saturated and unnatural.
- →Neglecting the importance of soft edges and blending.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·sap green oil paint
- ·round brushes
- ·flat brushes
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·turpentine
- ·retouch varnish
Use a medium-sized canvas to allow for sufficient detail. Consider using a toned canvas to establish a base color.
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