How to Draw a Cub Paw

The paw of a bear cub looks petite compared to adult paws.

Unlike their grizzly large parents, bear cubs offer a small, cute study for animal artists. The size of a cub's paws varies, depending on its particular species, so carefully study images of the type of bear cub that you wish to draw. When drawing your bear cub paw, beware of making it similar in appearance to a human hand. Bear paws have five strong fingers, like the human hand. Bear cub paws, though, have a padded, furry texture that makes them distinct.

Instructions

1. Draw a small oval. Orient this oval horizontally.

2. Draw five small, vertical ovals on the top of the first oval.

3. Extend a short line from each small oval. Shade over each line to thicken it. These lines represent the claws of the bear cub paw.

4. Trace over the tops and sides of each small oval to connect them at the base, forming the fingers of the bear cub paw.

5. Extend the line connecting the fingers along the sides of the larger oval. Draw this line beneath the base of the oval to create a flattened "U" shape.

6. Turn your pencil on its side and lightly shade inside of each small oval and the larger oval. This creates the pads of the bear cub paw.

7. Draw short, quick lines on the remaining areas of the paws around the pads to create fur. Draw these lines over the outline of the paw shape to continue the furry texture.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not draw hard, rigid lines for the individual strokes of the fur because this will detract from the soft-looking texture of this surface.

References

• How to Draw and Paint: How to Draw Animals Section