The Marula Retreat

A leopard resting in a maroela tree

This is an image of a leopard relaxing high in a Marula tree and has been sketched in the medium of Pastel on a PastelMat paper whilst using a photograph courtesy of Mohammed Hayat.

Leopards are known to favour Marula trees for a number of reasons. These trees offer thick branches with dense folliage, providing leopards with suitable vantage points for scouting prey and potential threats. Moreover, Marula trees often bear fruit that attracts various animals, making it an ideal hunting spot for leopards as they often ambush their prey when they come to feed on the succulent fallen fruits.

Additionally, the rough bark of these trees allow leopards to easily climb and seek refuge, securing their kills or retreating when needed. This combination of factors makes the Marula tree particularly appealing and adventageous for leopards.

This ORIGINAL has been SOLD to a PRIVATE COLLECTOR.

Below are a sequence of images showing how I sketched the above leopard

I've started by adding a light sketch of the leopard that's relaxed in the fork of the tree

I've added two shades of blue and then I've started to sketch in a canopy of leaves

Here I'm working at the top with a base green before starting on the shading the leaves

I got then bored of shading in the leaves, so I've started on the leopards head here.

I've added a (broad scarlet) dragonfly on a twig just to the left of the leopards head

I've done the head and now I'm working my way down the back of the leopard

Here I'm working on the base of his long tail

Here I've worked on the tree bow before continuing on the full length his tail

I've still got a lot of work to do on the image now I"ve added the lower background

Putting in the final touches to the leopards back before its finished

Beautifully scanned and framed by Framers Gallery