Hummingbirds and a Bear - Free Coloring Pages

Hummingbird - 4 Ways - #1

5.5 x 7.5" - Colored Pencil on Yupo paper, matted to 8 x 10"

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This was done with Prismacolor pencils on Yupo paper. I have never used pencil on Yupo before, but I liked working on the the super smooth surface which I thought yielded an interesting effect.

Last month's personal challenge doing the sunflowers and hydrangeas four different ways was fun and inspiring, so I thought I'd do the same thing with my hummingbird sketch. I recently took an online photography course with a man who talked about "failing with a purpose". When I go into a project with this in mind, it frees me up to discover new possibilities. All our pieces do NOT have to be keepers! I find that I learn the most from my failures. We have to allow ourselves that freedom and we don't have to show people everything we do! Doing the same composition in various approaches helps me to to play, experiment and go a little crazy.

Hummingbird - 4 Ways - #2

5.5 x 7.5" - Colored Pencil on Yupo paper, matted to 8 x 10"

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This is Bruynweel design black Aquarel (water soluble) pencil on Yupo paper with water applied. I had never used it wet before and was pleased with the soft effect.

Hummingbird - 4 Ways - line drawing

This is the line drawing I used for my hummingbird - four - ways - challenge. I know a lot of people, (myself included) like to color. It's a very relaxing and satisfying pastime.  

Please feel free to print these out for your personal, a friend's, your children's or grandchildren's pleasure. Each line drawing fits nicely on a standard 8.5 x 11" sheet.

If you do print and color any of these, I'd be pleased to hear about it and would love to see a photo of the end result!

I'm still being inspired by the "Spirit Bear".

This is my first rough drawing of a barn/yard commission that I have taken on. The client wants a lot of components in the final painting, including a pond, outhouse and horses. This first draft was just to determine a general composition, size, layout and the relationships of the elements. I think I want to simplify the pond a bit so it doesn't detract from the center of interest (the barn). Also I was thinking it would be nice having the silhouette of a horse's head looking out from the open doors of the barn. Once I get the owner's feedback,  I will proceed with a final drawing (which will also be framed and be part of the final package) before proceeding to the painting. Upon approval of the final drawing, I will give the client a price. I am thinking the size will be 18" x 24" framed.

I spent most of the past week experiencing waves of tears and sadness over the loss of my studio kitty, Princess. I drew this battered old bear on Saturday which in my somewhat depressed state, I could really relate to.

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I've got more art, pictures and some exciting news posted on my web log today! Be sure and check it out here!! 

Thanks for reading! As always, your reactions, opinions and comments on my posts are most appreciated!!

Bears and Crows in Pencil and Watercolor

Spirit Bear

This morning, I decided to do another painting on Yupo paper. I set my alarm for twenty minutes, thinking I might submit it to the Twenty Minute Challenge.  I redrew yesterday's sketch on Yupo paper with a black Prismacolor pencil and then painted quickly and boldly with transparent watercolor.  I have been thinking about the mystical Spirit Bears up in British Columbia ever since I saw this National Geographic video.

I have been practicing contour drawings which made me realize that I don't draw the interior of my subjects enough. Contour drawing should be about exploring and expressing the shapes inside of the outlines. This was done from the bear photo I posted.

This bear figurine has a lot of shape and texture which I really got into and overstated. In drawing, I try to practice, improve, learn, grow, push my boundaries and not to be too concerned about the end result.

Two minute gesture drawings are a great drill and help you to see the big picture without getting bogged down in the itty-bitty details. This is a plastic toy bear that I have sketched many times. I kept turning it a quarter turn after each 120 seconds. See more sketches and a photo of this bear.

These two minute gesture sketches of a crow are done with a 3B pencil. When each two minutes is up, the crow (a Halloween decoration) is turned 1/4 turn, the same way as the bear above. I strongly recommend this exercise! Remember everything is sketchable.

I'm not the only one sketching bears these days! YAY!! Thanks Susan!

Susan Bronsak posted these adorable critters on her blog here and here.

I hope you are getting inspired and your summer is off to a great start!

Thanks for reading and as always, I'd love to hear from you!

Lions, Tigers and BEARS, Oh My!

There was a large black bear spotted in our area last week. Our neighbor just reported that something got into his trash last night and really made a mess. AND, there were huge claw marks on his garbage can. Awe, I'm sure the poor guy just wandered out of the woods looking for food.

Bear symbolizes an awakening to power and is always a good sign. 

Mostly a shy and solitary creature, the bear teaches us to take time out for ourself, like taking time out for drawing or some other self-improvement activity.

It may be time to step back from the noisy world.

In alone time and through our dreams, we can get in touch with the universal creative mind and our own higher self.

I wanted to use some different mediums on these bear drawings. The first three sketches are done with a Bruynzeel design - Aquarel - 8635 - black watercolor drawing pencil. I only have black and have never used them wet. I did a step by step demo of this last watercolor sketch today. I was not happy with the photos, so I want to reshoot them before I post. If anyone wants a sketching challenge, here is a good shot of a black bear to draw from. Use your imagination! I started out with a bear here last year. You can also type "bear" into my search this blog box in the right column to see more bear exercises and drawings.

You can see the bear painting I did today from this final bear sketch on my web log. 

"If the human race is to survive, then we must respect the rights of other species to survive. Sharing bedroom space with a grizzly bear is not practical but sharing wilderness space is. We must therefore, restrict human activity in spaces where threatened or endangered species live. We must stay out of their bedroom. Set aside some wild spaces while they yet exist. Closing the wild spaces after all of the wild things are gone will not work." - Bob McMeans

Bear Totem Gesture

Bear Sketch

I used colored pencil instead of watercolor on today's drawing for a change of pace.

Panda Bear Drawing

Here's yesterday's sketch with a watercolor wash applied.

Happy Panda Bear

This is an easy line drawing done from a little figurine I have. Why not copy my sketch yourself? Just look at the simple shapes. If you are having trouble with this or other photos, draw a grid on the reference and a matching one on your drawing paper.

Bear Drawings & A New Challenge

Today I'm posting my bear challenge sketch in two parts, with and without the wash.


Below is another drawing sent in by Molly VanZant. She writes, "I hope you don't mind I sent my second attempt.. you don't have to publish it or comment on it, I don't want to take up your time but I did try again so I thought I'd send it on. Thanks for your blog & work, I love it!!"

Thanks Molly, good job!


Here's the new photo for this week's sketching challenge. It's a shot of Tommy on the porch with his cat grass, watching the hummingbirds. I hope some of you will give it a try.

My Bear Drawing and Our First Challenger Checks In!

I got our first drawing in already for this week's sketching challenge! Molly VanZant writes;" I tried to look for shapes but I got distracted by the lines."


It's a common problem with me too Molly. One trick I know of to enable you to see shapes better, is to draw a grid on your photo and then draw the same proportions on your paper. This bear breaks down evenly into four sections vertically . Then I drew a line through the bear on the horizon line. Now try to duplicate the shapes in each section on your paper and tell me if you find it any easier. I like the drawing very much overall, however it got a little big on the page. I'd recommend getting a bigger pad or starting smaller. I've listed the drawing supplies I use on my new "Simple Sketching Steps" lens.


Here's my first bear sketch from yesterday with the wash added today.

LET THE FUN BEGIN!! Grin And BEAR it!

OMG! Here it is the first day of June and the start of another fun filled summer of sketching everyday! I went down into the basement today, looking for stuff to sketch. Remember, everything is sketchable! Here's the items I came upstairs with.


I decided to draw the bear, so I put it up on a large coffee can to bring it up to eye level.


Here's my bear drawing for today. It's not very impressive. I'll put the watercolor wash on it tomorrow. I have to keep telling myself that this is an exercise! It doesn't have to be a masterpiece. I am really rusty, so I'll be starting off kinda slow this year. Please BEAR with me.


I decided to post this photo of the bear as *THIS WEEK'S SKETCHING CHALLENGE because I really like all the negative space and shapes around him/her. Squint a lot and look at SHAPES inside and outside of the figure as you draw. See shapes, not things and try not to get too wrapped up in the results. It's the process that counts. It will get easier the more you practice, I promise!


*THIS YEAR'S SKETCHING CHALLENGES - I'm posting a photo at the beginning of the week again. If anyone chooses to sketch it and send your drawing to: sandy@sandysandy.com, I'll post it here on the following Sunday or Monday (unless you tell me otherwise) with my own interpretation.

KISS A BEAR

Keep it sensationally simple! This bear sketch is about as simple as they get.

WAITING Can Be Such Wasted Time

This quick bear sketch was done from across the room of a lamp I have in my studio while I was waiting for something to download on my computer. In just a minute or two, you too can sketch while you are "waiting". Like I've said before, "If you get into the habit of sketching, you'll never be bored!"

It's a Bear!

Some days you get the bear and other days the bear gets you. It's been one of those days where the bear got me. Nothing major, just a bunch of little aggravations. Such is life... and bears!