Quiet Winter · Plate 44 of 45

Mountain goat color reference

Oreamnos americanus

The mountain goat lives on the steep cliffs of the Rocky Mountains and other ranges of northwestern North America. Despite its name, it is not a true goat. Its hooves have rough pads that grip rock, and its thick white coat keeps it warm.

Colors to reach for

Keep the coat white and cream with pale gray shadows, and use black for the horns, hooves, nose and eyes.

• white
• cream
• silver
• black
• pale blue

How to color the mountain goat, step by step

1. Read the gray shading guide first. It already marks where the mountain goat is darkest, so the shadows are mapped before you pick up a pencil.
2. Lay a light first layer of white and cream over the largest areas, with soft pressure and small circles, letting the gray show through.
3. Build depth with silver and black, going over the gray areas a second and third time until they read as shadow and form.
4. Finish with pale blue 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 mountain goat?

Start with white, cream, silver, black and pale blue. Keep the coat white and cream with pale gray shadows, and use black for the horns, hooves, nose and eyes.

Where is the mountain goat in Quiet Winter?

It is plate 44 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 mountain goat 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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• Arctic foxQuiet Winter, plate 2
• Polar bearQuiet Winter, plate 3
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