Leopard

Big cats are one of my favourite subjects and this leopard was an absolute joy to paint. Those rosette patterns on the fur are mesmerising — each one is slightly different and getting them right takes real concentration.

I used acrylics and worked from dark to light, building up the golden tones of the coat gradually. The eyes were the key to the whole painting — that intense stare that leopards have. I spent probably a third of my total time on the eyes alone to get them just right.

There is something about wildlife art that really pushes your skills and I love the challenge of it.