amur leopard progress - fur and ear detail

Hello Everyone, here is a quick update on the start of the fur detailing in the one corner of the picture. As said before this is the second in my big cat series, with the same cropping and sizing. It has been difficult to find the colouring of this amur leopard - as it has longer and paler fur than its tropical relatives, and I had to make sure I could achieve a good depth on paler areas of the face. I'm happy with the progress as I am working very hard to understand many aspects that differ from one cat to the next, but a great challenge!

NEW amur leopard painting

Hello All, here is the start of my beautiful new amur leopard - the most critically endangered big cat (approx. 35 left in the wild). Here eyes are probably the most difficult I have painted with regards to colouring however I am very pleased I have worked so hard to capture every colour I can see. The background will complement the leopards colouring, having some darker colouring added a bit later which the fur will blend into.

Most leopards are rarely found in cold or high-elevation environments, but instead live in the savannas of Africa where populations are relatively stable. However, the Amur leopard, a rare leopard subspecies, lives in the temperate forests and harsh winters of the Russian Far East.

They are threatened by:

• unsustainable logging
• forest fires
• land conversion for farming
• poaching for the illegal trade of their unique spotted coats

www.amur-leopard.org

FINISHED *Snow Leopard painting*

Presenting ' MELTING DIAMONDS ' snow leopard



' MELTING DIAMONDS ' snow leopard watercolour painting
original 12" x 8"
 

This is my latest painting finished :) I've absolutely loved painting her, she has such soul and character in her face, seeing her come to life before my eyes. It has been a privilege and an honour to capture such a stunning animal, I hope I have done her justice :)Since my last post (quite a while back!) I have strengthened the detail and colouring in her nose, capturing her age spots and small nicks, they have enlarged nasal cavities to help them breathe in high altitudes. The snow leopard's skull is large, short and broad with a short muzzle, resembling the Siberian lynx in its appearance. They have round pupils like the great cats, varying in color from pale yellow to green-grey.

The left-side of the painting allows the continuation of fur to disappear into the background colouring, echoing the misty cold and dry habitats in which they live. The mystical snow leopard lives in the most remote places on earth, yet they are 'Melting Diamonds', help to protect them now!
www.snowleopard.org

Thankyou Robert for your generous permission to use your photo reference :)