On a Mission

A young lion cub struts a nonchalant swagger with tail held high

This image was sketched using PASTEL on Pastel Matt paper whilst using a beautiful reference photograph courtesy of Aamir Khatri.

Below is how I created this image

I've sketched in a light pencil outline of the cub and I'm now starting to fill in the dark blurred background

Background partially done, created an out of focus tail and then I'm working down from the right ear

Working again on the second board using light magnifiers

Added the mouth, teeth and eyes before moving over the forehead to the left ear

Still slowly applying the under fur which is very laborious but is essential work

Worked on the left ear, back and front left leg before moving onto the chest and then down the right leg

The swagger is starting to take shape as I work on the paws, the fur and now the foreground

Just adding a few bits and pieces to the foreground of the image before taking it to be scanned and framed

Scanned Image