Baby Blue Eyes

This is a painting of a very young leopard cub peeping from behind a tree trunk. The blueness of its eyes is due to the small deposit of melanin in the irises, which are the muscular rings around the pupils, making them appear blue.

The blueness of its eyes is due to the small deposit of melanin in the irises, which are the muscular rings around the pupils, making them appear blue.

This small image was sketched using PASTELS on a Pastel Matt board whilst using a beautiful reference photograph courtesy of Johnathan Sala.

The following sequence of images show how I sketched it

I first sketched the outline before adding a blurred light green background with dappled light

I've added in it's light blue eyes and have now slowly begun working on its ears

I'm gradually marking in the spots whilst working at (Easle TWO) in the studio

I'm gradually working down the head to the nose and chin.

Im gradually working down the snout to the chin before moving along its neck

Marking up the highlights on the neck fur

Worked on the tree bark and the cubs whiskers

That's it finished

The scanned image