Abdullah

 I finished this yesterday. It's only a sketch rather than an indepth study. I was more interested in the way the mane and the facial muscles altered with the resting pose Abdullah had on his front paws. Lions aren't easy to draw. They have so many small details to consider. One more finished page in my visual diary done.

Abdullah - Work in progress 1

This lion was a big part of my life for nearly three years. He lives at a local Lion Park about an hours drive from me. Abdullah had been hand raised and sadly also declawed. He's a beautiful big African Lion who had a very distinct personality. He used to greet me whenever I visited and he knew my car well. This is a study drawing I have in my visual diary. That day he was resting in the sun looking rather bored with everything after having a big feed of horse meat. I love lions I'd prefer they are in the wild rather than locked in an enclosure. Sadly the reality is this lion was captive bred and will never see his parents African home. I'm just doing this one as a practice sketch for my own enjoyment.

African Lion (untitled) Work in Progress - Progressions

These are the progressions so far based on a Lion I photographed a year ago when I was still involved with Zion. This is a male named Aslan. He was only two metres away (with a fence between us) watching the pair of cheetahs that were in the enclosure next door. At the moment the last image looks like he's cross eyed. I still have to deepen the eyes then enhance the light shine so it gives the right effect. I was asked one time about which colours to use for these cats. Frankly I go on intuition. I haven't had any formal art training. The Lion Aid picture is on hold while I take another look at it then have a rethink. At the moment it's a bit of a creative disaster. It happens sometimes. You think you've got it ,then take another look and it's a complete botch up. I think the other project will be a complete redo, but Lion Aid will still end up with something they can sell on to raise funds for their work in raising awareness of the increasing decimation of these magnificent predators. I do this because simply I love it. Lions seem to me my strength. I had so much to do with them especially in the last couple of years. They were captive cats kept in enclosures so I could easily photograph them well aware of the safety needed even with a fence between myself and the cats. Lions regardless of what people think are first and foremost an Apex Predator, and should be accorded the respect they absolutely deserve. My Ultimate Goal is to one day get to Africa somewhere and see these stunning cats in a wild state.

"Watching" (Working title) Work in Progress 1 for @LIONAID

This is in the early stages of development. It's been two years since I did anything for the great organisation Lion Aid who are a UK based registered charitable organisation who are bring awareness to the plight of the of wild population of African Lions. Once they were in the 200,000 range now there are less than 23,000 left remaining in the whole of the African continent.Lion Aid have been very effective in bringing about changes. They have a lot more work to be done yet. This work will be sent to the UK for auction with the proceeds going to Lion Aid for their continuing work. It's quite large the medium is oil pastel on canvas board. I'm still developing the eye structure and the area you can see now. The drawing is a rough sketch based on one of the lions I used to photograph at a local wildlife park. I'll post more as I go.

King Lion

I think I've learned quite a bit from doing this study. This is a partial head study rather than the entirety of the animal. I can see faults already but that is what it's all about. Drawing and then learning from what is being done. I still like it even though it is a little dark in places and more lighter areas could have enhanced the features. It was fun that's all that matters.

King Lion - Work in Progress 2

Still adding in the details of the fur with an H pencil. I'm not quite sure how this will turn out. It looks a little dark right now. I'll remove some of the layers with a kneadable eraser later on and see how it looks. One thing I do know. Cats, now matter how big or small they are aren't easy subjects to draw!

King Lion - Work in progress 1

This part of a series of  drawing studies I'm doing on African Lions. I keep coming back to big cats time and time again. I've recently read that in Kenya there are only 2000 African Lions left now in the wild in that country. Overall the wild population for the entirety of Africa is starting to fall below the estimated 23,000 statistic. I had some issues with the lower part of the mouth and jaw area, after a couple of redos I think I have it in the right proportion. Cats no matter if they are big or small ones are always a challenge to do.

Serengeti Dreamer - Work in Progress 2

Again I haven't been able to get a decent image today of this piece. Things have progressed further now from the preliminary sketch. I've now rendered in the main detail with various shades of greys, browns and oranges plus ochre. The colours in this image are not true to the original work.

Serengeti Dreamer - Work in Progress 1

Sorry about the poor quality of the photograph. I've started a second work for the Lion Aid Fundraising auction for March of this year. Here's Stage one with the sketch and the start of the rendering. Medium coloured pencil on Blockingford Black Pastel paper

The White King

I've really enjoyed doing this portrait. Everything has come together brilliantly. He will soon be going to Lion Aid in the UK for charity auction. He wasn't a practice drawing - but a serious study of an adult African Lion. I've learned a lot from this portrait and hope to learn more from the next work I do. This has been a joy for me to see this beautiful lion finished. Special thanks to the wonderful team at Zion Wildlife Gardens for their kindness in allowing me to photograph their incredible big cats.

The White King - Work in Progress 4

This magnificent adult male lion is at last coming to life. I'm now bringing more definition to the mane and features using various greys and even blues into the mix. I have really enjoyed doing this piece. More so that the I have met the actual Lion this work is based upon. Laduma is a magnificent Lion in real life.

The White King - Work in Progress 1