Kirby and Grizzo

 2012 is Kirby's 20th anniversary, so here's some art of the pink creampuff.

How to Draw a Polar Bear

Polar bears are large, muscular animals with short legs and powerful forelimbs. The polar bear’s body is streamlined for navigating ice, water, and land. Their elongated torso and tapered head and neck are perfect for long distance swimming, while large feet give them better traction on the ice. Thick fur protects them from the cold. Try to bring out these traits in your drawing.

The key to drawing anything is to break it down into basic shapes. If you can draw circles and ovals, you can draw a polar bear.  Don’t be discouraged if your first attempt doesn’t turn out exactly like the picture. Practice makes perfect, so let’s begin!

Click the image below to view the step-by-step polar bear drawing tutorial.

Don’t give up if your first drawings aren’t perfect. Art is not something that can be learned overnight. Drawing is a skill that must be practiced and supplemented through observation, so keep a sketchbook, and take it with you everywhere. Look around you, draw what you see.  Visit the zoo and sketch animals. Sketch people at the mall. The more you draw, the better you’ll get. Good luck!

Here's another article written by me with more animal sketching tips and resources.

How to Draw an Arctic Fox

Arctic foxes are nimble and curious animals, bursting with energy. They have thick fur to protect them from the cold, which makes them especially puffy and adorable. In the winter, their fur is white to camouflage them in the snow. It thins and turns brown in the summer. For this tutorial, we'll be drawing their winter form.

The key to drawing anything is to break it down into basic shapes. If you can draw circles and ovals, you can draw a fox.  Don't be discouraged if your first attempt doesn't turn out exactly like the picture. Practice makes perfect, so let's begin!

Click the image below to view the step-by-step arctic fox drawing tutorial.

Don’t give up if your first drawings aren’t perfect. Art is not something that can be learned overnight. Drawing is a skill that must be practiced and supplemented through observation, so keep a sketchbook, and take it with you everywhere. Look around you, draw what you see.  Visit the zoo and sketch animals. Sketch people at the mall. The more you draw, the better you’ll get. Good luck!


Here's another article written by me with more animal sketching tips and resources.

Daily Animal Sketch – Polar Bear cubs

Great Ursa Mother

(Previously seen cropped in my Mother’s Day card)

New book - Sketchbook Confidential 2

I’m in a new book called Sketchbook Confidential 2, published by North Light Books.

It’s a really interesting art reference book that takes a peek into the sketchbooks of 38 different artists including myself, Tokyopop alumni Jared Hodges and Irene Flores, and others (many fine artists and painters). Each artist is showcased with several pages of WIP sketches, and their thoughts on sketching. Give it a flip through next time you’re at the bookstore.

Polar Bear Hugs

(Previously seen cropped in my Mother’s Day card)

Mother’s Day

Tell Mom how much you love her on Mother’s Day!

Would you like to give one of these snuggly polar bear designs to the Mom in your life? I’ve put together a printable e-card version in PDF format. Click to download your favorite design below, then simply print and fold.

Message: Thank you for giving me a life full of happiness and warmth. Happy Mother's Day.

Message: Thank you for a life full of happiness and warmth. Happy Mother's Day.

Underwater Bear

Thought I’d share a panel from the Last of the Polar Bears storyboards as I work on scanning all of them. The actual size of this drawing is only about two inches tall! I won’t be using this one in the comic, but I rather like it.

Artistic Polar Bear

Polar bear art created for Wildlife Warriors, for use in the "My Arctic Animal" competition and "Creating a Comic" tutorial in Bare Essentials magazine, Issue 25, pgs 37-41.

Original pencil drawing.