Nowhere to go

Amur leopard

This is an image of a rare Amur leopard glancing back to check for any danger.

The Amur leopard is one of the rarest and most critically threatened leopard subspecies which is found along the borderlines of Russia and China. This image was sketched using Pastel on a Pastelmatt paper whilst referencing a beautiful photograph curtesy of wildlife photographer Matthew Roper.

This ORIGINAL has been SOLD to a PRIVATE COLLECTOR.

Below are a sequence of images that show how I sketched the above Amur leopard

Here I've lightly pencilled in the motionless posture and markings of the leopard

I've added Unison Light Blue 16 for the sky before adding the lower mountain range

Added a base layer of snow to the ridge and now started on the ear and top of the head

Whilst standing at my easel I'm spotting the head of the leopard

I've now added the eyes, the nose, cheeks, both ears and the ruff of the neck

I'm working on the neck shaddow, then onto it's flank and down the length of its tail

Where ever I seem to stand it will watch me from the easel

This time I've started from the tip of its long tail and worked my way up to its rump

I've added the pads of the back legs and front paws, now just the flank to do

Adding the highlights to the fur on the back legs

Beautifully scanned and framed at Framers Gallery