plate no. 5349

Three Polar Bears

Richard Friese, 1912

oil, canvasNaturalismanimal paintingpolar bearsicesnowarcticanimalswildlife

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting realistic animal forms and rendering subtle color variations in snow and ice. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and atmosphere.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and placement of the polar bears and ice floes.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the overall composition.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the sky, ice, and bears using thin washes.
step 04
Begin building up layers of color on the ice, paying attention to the subtle blues and grays.
step 05
Start defining the forms of the polar bears, focusing on their anatomy and fur texture.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Refine the details of the faces and fur, using smaller brushes.
step 08
Add final touches and glazes to unify the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt umber · raw sienna · ivory black

Achieve the cool tones of the ice by mixing titanium white with small amounts of ultramarine blue and burnt umber. Create the warm tones of the polar bears by mixing titanium white with yellow ochre and a touch of burnt umber.

techniques