A young leopard takes a second glimpse from behind a tree

This image of a young male leopard (Sephiri) glimpsing from behind a tree has been sketched in the medium of Pastel on a PastelMat paper whilst using a series of beautiful photographs taken by wildlife photographer Dustin van Helsdingen.

This ORIGINAL has now been SOLD to a PRIVATE COLLECTOR

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

I've started the image by lightly sketching in the leopard details and also the bark of the tree

Gradually I've started to fill in the coarse texture of the tree bark on the left of the image

I've now added a small branch behind its ear before starting on the green background colour

Here I'm sponging is some green panpastel above the leopard

I've added a couple of siafu (army ants) to the branch and have now started on his ear

I've now started at the top of the head and then worked down its forehead to the eyes

Here I'm starting on the eyes whilst using a piece of paper to avoid smudging the background

I've now added his eyes and I'm now working down his cheeks

I've gradually worked down his snout, cheeks and then chest

Beautifully scanned by Framers Gallery