Quiet Winter · Plate 4 of 45

Snowy owl color reference

Bubo scandiacus

The snowy owl nests on the Arctic tundra and often hunts by day during the long summer light. Males are almost pure white, while females have more dark bars. Its feathered feet help it stay warm.

Colors to reach for

Keep the feathers white with dark brown or black bars, use soft gray for shadows, and give the eyes a bright yellow.

• white
• dark brown
• black
• yellow
• silver

How to color the snowy owl, step by step

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

Start with white, dark brown, black, yellow and silver. Keep the feathers white with dark brown or black bars, use soft gray for shadows, and give the eyes a bright yellow.

Where is the snowy owl in Quiet Winter?

It is plate 4 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 snowy owl 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.

More from Quiet Winter

• ReindeerQuiet Winter, plate 6
• Northern cardinalQuiet Winter, plate 7
• NarwhalQuiet Winter, plate 8
• Pine cone and needlesQuiet Winter, plate 9

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