Malaika

Angel in Kiswahili, A leopard cub peers from behind a tree trunk

Sketched from a series of photographs courtesy of Johan de la Rey. This image has been sketched using PASTELS on Pastel Matt Paper.

Reference marks ready completed

The background with an eye taking shape

The eyes are starting to shape the face

Starting to sketch in the dark spots

The nose and forehead are starting to take shape.

The cubs ear is now to be blurred slightly to make it more three diamentional

At my easle

I'm  working down the cubs right side of its face, making it blurred whilst ensuring the nose and snout remain in focus.

Now moving across to the cubs left cheek and introducing a stretched out leg along the branch of a tree..

Adding the shadow of the tree bow to the side of the face and over thenose to give it depth.

Working on the paw as it stretches it forward

The paw now starting to appear

Now moving onto the base colour of the tree bow and branch

Now working on the lower branch

Broken branch coming along

Ready to have scanned and framed..

Completed scan of the Original artwork