DrawWithMike.net

Brilliant, thoroughly enjoyed the challenge and found them to be a great learning experience. Trying to get the surroundings to look realistic and the development of depth was a great experience, once I felt part of the scene... The other turning point in these drawings for me was feeling the Bears movements and antics as part of the drawing, I found it easy to lose myself in these drawings, so thanks Mike, for the challenge, and they were, but I feel as though I understand and feel more as though I'm part of the photo, so it's opening more doors to me in the development of my graphite understanding.

What I'm about to say might have more to do with our differing styles than actual critique, Ron... but here goes...... First, your treatment of the background is excellent. It has depth without dragging my eye into it and away from the Grizzly. I do think it could have been darker overall, But only because that would have brightened the highlights along the back of the bear and made it stand out more.

Style-wise: I have no arguments about your treatment of the bear's hair. It's lively, dynamic, and possesses life. But I do, from my viewpoint, think you've lost opportunities to bring it to a higher level of realism. Personally, I love those thick hairs from the back of its ear up its neck to its shoulder. It's so thick I could bury my hands in it. Again, where the neck spills over the shoulder and down the leg, the shaping in that hair adds more three-dimensionality than you achieved with your translation. That's not to say yours is at fault; simply that it could be improved.

I think the same applies to the shade under its belly. You've chosen to shine light in there, but that's flattened it to some extent and discarded the feeling of the enormous girth and weight.

I feel that weight is important. They are hugely powerful animals. I photographed this one at the West Yellowstone Wolf and Grizzly Discovery Center. Outside their enclosure is a series of rubbish bins (dumpsters) that the bears have tested for strength. The damage they caused has to be seen to be believed!