I just love this cute Polar Bear that I created in PSP 7 and wanted to share her with you all.  I have provided the instructions for how to make your own bear, but will leave the decorating for you to do in your own style.   I felt a lot of love with this cutie so I called her my ‘Love Bear’.

Okay, that’s enough of cute talk, now onto creating!  LOL


You will need:

• PSP 7     (I used version 7 but should be easy to do in 5 or 6)

• Eye Candy 4

• Texturizer    You can use the PSP texturizer or the Adobe if you happen to own one.

• Spatch

Now before we go on, please remember to save your work as you go along, don’t just rely on auto save , if you have PSP 7, I don’t altogether trust that little rascal lately. I also used 'Spatch' for the fill to get the fur effect that I have achieved but you can use a light colour with some light spraying of a darker shade to create your own effect…it’s up to you folks! 
Screen shots were reduced in size for quicker downloading, so yours will be bigger than this.  I am assuming that you not only have a working knowledge of PSP, but that you have also got a kind heart that will go easy on this old girl should you need to e-mail me for help!

The 2 colours that I have used for my bear are as follows:
For the dark shading I used   #8C7962
        and the mouth and nose area  #FEDFC      

Away we go!

Open up a transparent image, I started with a 500 x 700 as I like plenty of space to work with and then resized the image as needed. 

Select Ellipse in your Preset shapes tool and  with Create as Vector and Antialias checked,  Foreground null Background - 'Spatch' in your patterns. 

Make a shape for the head, select the object selector and change the nodes until you are satisfied with the results. Like so:

Convert to Raster Layer and call this layer ‘Head’.   Re-select the head by clicking on your selections tool set to rectangle, draw around your shape and then click in the middle, which will give you the marching ants around it.  Go to Image-Plugins-Eye Candy-Swirl..
 

 Then Eye Candy again-but this time, Fur.

 

Select airbrush with #8C7962 or similar, as your colour
Spray around edges of head, then spray an area for the eyes, nose and mouth. Remembering not to use too much, like so:

http://www.heartcreators.net/ladyoz/images/

Select the Retouch and choose 'Smudge...with upward strokes and moving outwards, smooth out an area for the brow and top of head.  Like so:

Select Ellipse in your Preset shapes and  with Create as Vector and Antialias checked,  Foreground null Background fill- #FEDFC, make a shape for the mouth and snout area. Convert to Raster Layer.  'Eye Candy'-'Swirl' now  we will use 'Texturizer'. 

 

Next apply the Inner Bevel and then with the airbrush and the colour you used  previously, spray lightly  to get the effect you are happy with. 

Call this layer "Snout" or whatever you like! ;o)

For the actual snout or nose, I added a New Raster layer and I chose to use paintbrush with black, then I drew the shape that you see below.  I also drew in the mouth using a smaller sized brush.   Select the area with the selection tool set to rectangle, draw around your shape and then click in the middle,  I then went to Image-3D effects-Inner Bevel with these settings.  Merge Visible the two mouth layers, you have to close the other layers to do this. Call this layer Nose/mouth

 

With Nose/Mouth layer selected, add a New Raster Layer.  Preset Shapes .. Ellipse...Antialias checked...Vector unchecked, Foreground null...Background fill, black,  make a circle or oval for the eye-now go to Eye Candy-Glass....See settings below. Move into place  and Duplicate this layer, then Mirror it... Merge Visible these two eye layers, call the new layer ‘eyes’ and drag to below nose area.

Select Ellipse in your Preset shapes tool and  with Create as Vector and Antialias checked,  Foreground null Background - 'Spatch' in your patterns,  make the shape for the ear, select the object selector and change the nodes until you are satisfied with the results.

Convert to Raster Layer and call it Ears….this stays on top of head areas.  Re-select it again and use EC-Swirl-Fur.  Use the airbrush to shade in some definition and then move it in place on the left side of head, Duplicate and  Mirror to other side, you will probably also have to rotate it about 20 degrees to the left.  Move it into place.

Then merge all your layers visible and call it 'Head'.  I then used the airbrush and then smudged several areas to get the finished effect.

Still with me?  If you are then great work….I lose my self quite often so don’t hold out much hope for any of you. ;o)

Select Ellipse in your Preset shapes tool and  with Create as Vector and Antialias checked,  Foreground null Background - 'Spatch' in your patterns,  make a body shape, using your nodes to get the shape you want.

Same again, …EC –Swirl-Fur, same as before, for the fur effect.  Resize this if necessary, I know that I had to.  Convert to Raster Layer calling it ‘Body’ and this is moved under the head layer.

Now for the arms….same again. elect Ellipse in your Preset shapes tool and  with Create as Vector and Antialias checked,  Foreground null Background - 'Spatch' in your patterns, do a shape for the arm and change the shape to your liking.  Convert to Raster calling it ‘Arms’.  Reselect and use the Swirl and then Fur technique in Eye Candy.  Once again use the airbrush with dark shade for making the creases under arms and around elbow etc for definition, always using sparingly, light around the edges too.

Add another layer, Preset shapes tool same settings but with Background fill changed to 'Black',  make an oval shape for the paw. Convert to Raster Layer  and then use Inner Bevel with the settings below, Rotate 20 degrees to right to define creases,  Merge this layer with the arm layer When you are happy with the results, Duplicate and Mirror.  Merge Visible your arm layers and call it 'Arms'. This stays on top of the body layer.

      

No need to repeat the settings and steps by now...The legs are done in the same way, remembering to rotate them until you have them in the desired position. 

The feet are made the same way as the paws and go on top of the legs.

Use the airbrush and smudge tool to define any areas that you feel need it and your Polar Bear is ready for dressing to your preference.  Don't forget to merge all layers visible. 

 

 

I hope that I have made this easy and clear enough for you, still new at this game.  If you have any problems with any of the tutorial please don’t hesitate to tell me.

   Play around til you get it the way that YOU want it.  Select Polar Bear and apply a drop shadow then do what you want with her.

BUT DON'T FORGET TO TUBE THAT CUTIE! 


I hope that you have enjoyed this tute and would love to see your finished creation.....if you ever get there that is.  ;o)