Quiet Winter · Plate 13 of 45

Emperor penguin and chick color reference

Aptenodytes forsteri

The emperor penguin is the largest penguin and breeds in Antarctica during the winter. The male keeps the single egg warm on his feet for about two months while the female feeds at sea. The chicks are covered in soft gray down with a black and white face.

Colors to reach for

Use black and white for the adult with yellow-orange patches on the neck, and soft gray for the downy chick.

• black
• white
• yellow orange
• silver
• pale yellow

How to color the emperor penguin and chick, step by step

1. Read the gray shading guide first. It already marks where the emperor penguin and chick is darkest, so the shadows are mapped before you pick up a pencil.
2. Lay a light first layer of black and white over the largest areas, with soft pressure and small circles, letting the gray show through.
3. Build depth with yellow orange and silver, going over the gray areas a second and third time until they read as shadow and form.
4. Finish with pale yellow for the smallest details and highlights, then step back and compare with the color reference above.

Questions about this page

What colors do I need to color the emperor penguin and chick?

Start with black, white, yellow orange, silver and pale yellow. Use black and white for the adult with yellow-orange patches on the neck, and soft gray for the downy chick.

Where is the emperor penguin and chick in Quiet Winter?

It is plate 13 of 45 in Quiet Winter. Like every Nibfern drawing it is printed on one side of the page, with a light gray shading guide under the lines and a dotted cut line at the spine.

Can I frame the emperor penguin and chick page?

Yes. Cut along the dotted line and trim to the corner marks for a 7 x 9 inch print that fits a standard 8 x 10 frame.

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• OrcaQuiet Winter, plate 16
• Blue jayQuiet Winter, plate 17
• Red foxQuiet Winter, plate 18

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