Bramble the Bear

About this piece

Bramble is a woodland-furred bear among the leaves, built as a character study for a bedtime short. Warm browns and a calm expression keep the design gentle at any size.

Woodland characters are a shape problem disguised as a fur one: broad readable masses first, then layered fur response that follows the forms. The leaves around the portrait set the scale and the season.

Process

1. Block simple woodland volumes first, then layer the fur response along the forms.
2. Vary the fur tones on the muzzle and paws; even simple characters need small value shifts.
3. Light from the side to sell softness; flat front light hides the fur layering.