There’s something magnetic about the stark contrasts of light and dark in chiaroscuro. Lately, I’ve been exploring how that drama can be pushed even further—not with a classical subject, but with a creature as quiet and powerful as a polar bear.
This piece has been unfolding in layers, and I thought it’d be fun to share the progress.
I started with an ink sketch—just simple lines to work out the pose, proportions, and energy. The challenge with a bear (especially one that’s nearly all white) is how to convey mass and emotion without leaning too much on detail. The sketch helped me feel out how light might fall and how I might hint at shape through shadow.
From there, I moved into a watercolor study. I kept the palette cool and limited, testing out the tension between soft edges and strong contrast. Watercolor is honest, there’s no undo button, so it forced me to be deliberate with my values. I began thinking not just about the bear, but the space around it. The environment had to pull its weight in the story.
With the sketches completed I felt confident enough to start the background of my painting. It’s a mix of acrylic inks, spray paint, and brushwork, and it’s got this great moody atmosphere that sets the tone. I wanted a backdrop that felt abstract and vast—almost like a mix of Aurora borealis and sheets of ice, but not literally. Something that holds both beauty and danger, stillness and motion.
Next, I’ll begin integrating the bear into the final composition—playing with edges, carving out the form with light, and letting the contrast build the presence. My goal is for the figure to emerge from the background in a way that feels haunting and luminous.
There’s a way to go, but this is one of those paintings that’s teaching me something as I go. I’ll post more as it develops.
Thanks for following along.
—Lary
