Lord of Savanna

July 26, 2009
Painting thumbnail

Lion FINAL

Finished painting a snarling lion this week. Called him Lord of Savanna.

10/4/09 update: Lord of Savanna takes first place in the Pastel Category at the Irving Art Association’s 8th annual Wildlife Art Show.

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Comments

Welcome, visitor!

4 Comments

  1. Chris wrote on 8/10/09:

    Nancy, this one is amazing when seen in person. It is realistically furry. You can see the enamel on the teeth. I’m curious. How old would you put your lion at?

  2. Nancy wrote on 8/10/09:

    Thanks Chris! That’s the goal: “realistically furry.” My wise and capable teacher once told me a successful portrait is achieved when it looks as if the person (or animal!) can draw a breath – or in this case roar his fierce roar!
    This handsome fellow has a full mane. You may have seen some lions and even lionesses with a scruffy little bit of a mane. The development of the full mane in the male is gradual. The adolescent male begins to grow its mane at about 18 months and it continues to grow until the cat reaches about five years of age. A large dark mane is usually indicative of a high status male. Other factors to determine his age would be the condition of the teeth, number of battle wounds (facial scars), his weight and so forth. This boy’s still pretty so I would put him at about six or seven. However, I did take some artistic license and painted out some of the unflattering scars . =)

  3. Paula Sterns wrote on 8/10/09:

    OK, this might be one of my favorites. I LOVE lions, and you did such an awesome job on this. The hair, the eyes, the coloring. Bravo!

  4. Chris wrote on 8/10/09:

    Now I know when it’s time to “card” a lion, and when it’s time to run.

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