The Ambush

An image of dust being kicked up as a lioness charges towards a stampeding herd of plains zebra

This image has been sketched using PASTELS on Pastel Matt Paper.

What follows is an account of how I created this artwork

The laborious task of sketching out the herd of zebra stripes moving right to left with the lioness off centre right.

Starting to work on the zebra from left to right. It's easier doing it that way as I am right handed

Adding the black stripes along the neck of a zebra

The herd of zebra are gradually starting to take shape as I work along the image towards the lioness and beyond

Stripes, stripes and stripes, I'll be glad to start on the lioness

Getting to the centre part of the image as I work my way across the 33 in sketch

Suddenly the lions ears have come into the frame as I fill in the next zebra behind the stallion

Now we are beginning to see the outline of the lioness taking shape with just a few zebra left to sketch

Just working on the dust around the zebra's legs before moving onto the attacking lioness.

Finished the zebra part of the image, now the lioness to do, I'm striped out!!

 

The lioness is starting to appear as I work along her muscular body from her head to the tip of her tail

The final scanned image