How to draw a bear in a sweater!

Welcome! This blog post features a guided tutorial of how to draw a cozy bear in a winter sweater. This activity helps artists to build skills using hatching lines to create IMPLIED TEXTURE and repeating shapes, colors, and lines to create PATTERNS.

This lesson can be finalized with so many different art materials ranging from colored pencils, shading pencils, watercolor, pastels, and so much more!

In this tutorial, the materials that I will be using include:

• White paper
• Brown Kraft paper
• Pencil
• Ultra Fine Point Sharpie
• Fine Point Sharpie
• Watercolor and/or watercolor pencils
• Brush & Water
• Scissors
• Glue

Step 1:

Lightly draw the basic contours of the bear ensuring that the sketch fills the majority of the page.

Looking to add your own spin on it? Consider adding a winter hat, scarf, etc.

Step 2:

Outline the snout and the eyes of the bear. Fill in the nose and eyes with solid black.

Step 3:

In this next step, draw lines that will imply the texture of fur. Begin around the eyes and radiate in a direction outwards. Using a ultra fine point marker helps to make it look more like fur!

Note the direction of the lines here.

Step 4:

Continue drawing the lines until you read the pencil edge.

Step 5:

Use this method to complete the bear’s head!

Step 6:

On the bear’s snout, add some texture by using stippling which is tiny dots.

Around the eyes and snout, consider layering more lines to create areas where the fur looks to have a shadow.

Step 7:

Fill in the inside circle of the bear’s ears with solid black.

Step 8:

On the outer edge of the bear’s ear, add some implied texture lines. Note the direction of the fur on the ears.

Step 9:

Let’s complete the bear’s neck. Draw implied texture lines that go in a downward direction. Layer these lines more so they appear darker.

Step 10:

Use a pencil to lightly draw at least 3 or more sectional lines on the sweater.

Step 11:

Use pencil to lightly draw a different pattern in each section of the sweater. Repeating simple shapes and lines can create complex patterns!

Step 12:

Once you have the patterns figured out, outline with marker.

Step 13:

Choose a color scheme of about 3-4 repeating colors to finalize the sweater. This will help to make the design unified!

In this image, watercolor pencils are used.

Step 14:

If you used watercolor pencils, mix with water to activate the flowing colors!

Step 15:

*OPTIONAL* Add some shadows on the bear’s face.

Step 16:

Cut the bear out of the white paper. Save the remaining white paper, as this can be used to create moons and snowy mountains.

Step 17:

Choose a background color of your choice. Patterned scrap book paper looks great! I love the brown Kraft paper, it gives it a nice rustic look! Splatter some snow on the background with white paint.

Consider using the leftover white paper to cut out a moon and a snowy mountain.

Glue all pieces down and VOILA! You have a cozy winter bear in a sweater ready to embrace the winter chill.

Thanks for checking out this blog post. I would love to see your creations if you use these steps to create your own winter bear in a sweater. Feel free to tag me on Instagram and possibly get featured in this site! Also, please follow Make a Mark Studios on Facebook to keep up with the latest posts! Thanks in advance!

-Stephanie Villiotis, art teacher and creator of Make a Mark Studios