11 x 13 inches, hot press 300lb cotton paper, watercolor, and gouache
I'm working on the last layer of fine fuzzy guard hairs, shadows, highlights and refining the cat's whiskers. This is my second favorite part of a painting. I love the research when I first start a painting. Research helps me set up an outline before I start the drawing.
It looks like the painting is done. I can overwork a piece if I don't stay with the process I've developed over my years of practice. That's why I work in layers and have a strategy.
I am finishing up the right side of the leopard.
Did you know that there are all sorts of different kinds of leopards? I'm writing this data from memory, so search don't take my word for anything serious 😂🙏
A jaguar looks like a leopard but is has a bigger frame. Leopards' eyes can be different colors from gold, green, to blue. The cloud leopard has the most fantastic coat pattern and face.
11 x 13 inches, hot press 300lb cotton paper, watercolor, and gouache
I've been working on the Leopard’s eyes. Once I am satisfied, I wait for the eyes to start speaking to me, and they will guide me through the rest of the painting process. I will do some chores and stop by the painting to get a fresh look. I will be adding more highlights to the eyes when I'm almost finished.
After dinner, I am going to start on the Leopard's ears. The ears speak to the emotions of the animal's body.
The first layer of paint always looks like poop 💩 🎨
The leopard will not have a purple nose; that's just the first layer of color. I like to add washes of color over color making different colors. The nose is a dark purplish-red.
sharing my first layer takes a lot of courage. I feel naked! I need to add shadows, highlights, and hair.
The leopard's eyes will not be yellow, more like a tan color. When working in water-based transparent paint, we work from light to dark. I like using opaque white watercolor called gouache. I can get some great details using gouache after filling the structure with colors, shadows, and highlights. I leave a light wash for lighter colors. That takes a lot of practice, and I am still learning. Also, I am self-taught, so my watercolor paintings don't look like traditional watercolor art.
I asked my husband what I should paint next. I thought he would request a soccer player. Instead, he surprised me. He asked for a big cat! He must have known I love painting cats 🐈
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