how to draw brown bear eric carle

Learn to Draw Brown Bear: Simple Step-by-Step Eric Carle Art Tutorial

By David LeeMarch 30, 2026

Dive into the enchanting world of children's book illustrations with this step-by-step guide on how to draw the beloved Brown Bear from Eric Carle's classic tale. Eric Carle's unique collage technique brings life and warmth to his illustrations, and we'll capture that charm in our Brown Bear drawing. Ready to create your own artistic masterpiece? Let's get started!

Eric Carle's Brown Bear is a jovial character with distinct features, making it an excellent subject for beginners and experienced artists alike. To draw Brown Bear, we'll focus on simple shapes and colors, just like Carle himself.

Preparing Your Art Supplies

Gather your art supplies before you begin. You'll need:

How to Draw like Eric Carle Tutorial and Eric Carle Coloring Page

Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See Printable Coloring Pages

Paper (thick, white drawing paper works best)
Pencil (HB or 2B, for outlining and shading)
Eraser
Crayons or colored markers (for coloring)
Scissors (for creating paper collage elements, optional)

Once you have everything ready, let's dive into the drawing process.

Drawing the Outlines of Brown Bear

Start by lightly drawing a large oval shape for Brown Bear's body. This will be our foundation. Sketch a smaller oval on top, so it's slightly touching the larger one. This will serve as Brown Bear's head.

a drawing of a red bird flying in the air

Next, add two small, circular ears at the top of the head. Now, create a large, curved paw on each side of the body, ensuring they're drawn within the oval's shape. Lastly, sketch a simple, curved snout at the bottom of the head and two small, almond-shaped eyes above it.

Adding Details to Your Brown Bear Drawing

Now that you have the basic outlines, it's time to add some life to Brown Bear's face. Start by drawing two small, curved lines inside the mouth to create a friendly smile. Then, add three small, curved claws to each paw.

Brown Bear is known for its colorful fur, so don't shy away from adding various sized and shaped circles, squares, and triangles all over the body to create a collage-like effect. Remember, Eric Carle used bright, vibrant colors, so be bold with your color choices!

27+ Pretty Picture of Brown Bear Brown Bear Coloring Pages - albanysinsanity.com

Free Brown Bear Color Matching Printable for Toddlers - Active Littles

Brown Bear, Brown Bear Coloring Sheet — Mostly Montessori

Eric Carle, Your Favorite Children's Book Illustrator, Is 87 And Still Making Art

Creating the Collage Effect

Eric Carle's Brown Bear illustrations feature a unique collage technique using construction paper. To replicate this effect, you can draw and cut out shapes from colored paper and glue them onto your drawing. Alternatively, you can use crayons or colored markers to fill in the shapes you've drawn.

Be sure to overlap some shapes to create dimension and mimic Carle's distinct style.

Coloring Brown Bear

Coloring is where your Brown Bear truly comes to life. Eric Carle often used primary and secondary colors in vibrant shades. Start by coloring Brown Bear's body with a warm, earthy brown tone. Then, add various colorful shapes around the body, remembering not to cover the snout, eyes, mouth, and paws.

Once you've filled in the main colors, add lighter and darker shades of each color to give depth and texture. Don't forget to color the inside of the ears and paws a lighter shade of brown. Lastly, carefully color Brown Bear's snout, eyes, and mouth with a black crayon or marker.

Congratulations! You've just created your own Eric Carle-inspired Brown Bear illustration. Display your artwork proudly and share your creativity with others. Who knows, maybe your Brown Bear will inspire someone else to pick up a pencil and start drawing!