Step 7: Darken the outer edge of the initial circle using short strokes to create the American black bear's head. Don't close off the shape on the left side to emphasize the connection of the head to the body.

Step 8: Use the first and third lines from the left that are under the body as guides to draw the bear's legs. First lightly sketch the shape of the legs around the guides. The tops of the legs should wide and then they should gradually get narrower toward the bottom. Use short strokes to create a furry texture. Inside each foot, draw a couple of short, curved lines to separate the toes. On the tip of each toe, draw a small, curved, triangular shape for the claws.

Step 9: Use the other two angled lines under the body as guides to draw the bear's other legs the same way. Draw the shape of the legs around the guide lines. Use short strokes to create a furry texture. Add a couple of curved lines on the tip of each foot for the toes and claws. The foot on the front leg is raised so draw a bit of the paw pad using short, curved lines.

Step 10: Darken the outer edges of the guides to finalize the shape of the black bear's body. Use a series of short strokes as you darken the shape to create a furry texture. Don't overlap the shapes of the legs as you darken the underside of the body.

Step 11: For a cleaner look, erase as much as you can of the initial guide lines. Don't worry about erasing all of the guides. It's okay to leave some behind. Re-draw any final sketch lines you may have accidentally erased.

Final Step: Shade your drawing for extra detail. American black bears have black fur so use a medium to dark value to shade the entire body. Use a lighter value to shade the muzzle. Add a slightly darker value throughout the body to create shadows. Pick a light source as you shade so that the shadows are consistent across the body. Here the light source is coming from the top so most of the shadows will be on the underside of the shapes. Shade lightly at first and gradually build up to darker values. For light values, push down very lightly on your pencil and push down harder for darker values. As you shade the body, use strokes that go in the general direction of the fur. Separate each stroke a bit so that the white of the paper comes through and creates a more furry texture. Add a cast shadow at the bottom using a medium value. It's a good idea to use reference as you shade for a more accurate depiction of a black bear. Shading can be time-consuming, so be patient and take breaks. For a more detailed guide on how to shade, check out this tutorial: How to shade.

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