Leopard Painting by Ilse de Villiers
“A Cautious Drink”
As an artist, I’ve always been drawn to painting wildlife and leopards have always been a challenging subject for me. After zebras, leopards are my next favorite subject to paint. In this blog, I will share the story behind my latest creation, “A Cautious Drink,” a stunning painting of a leopard drinking from a watering hole.
The Inspiration
Wildlife photography is a passion for many in South Africa and there are a lot of very talented photographers. I either use my husband’s (Abraham de Villiers’s) reference photos or source one from the many options available by talented photographers in South Africa. When I came across a remarkable photo of a leopard drinking from a watering hole, I knew I had to use it as reference for my artwork. The photo was taken by Chad Cocking, a wildlife photographer and game ranger at Tanda Tula Safari Camp in Hoedspruit.
I probably already reserved this image 3 or 4 years ago, but was ‘saving’ it for the right time (if that makes sense at all) 2022 proved to be that year & I enjoyed every moment of creating this artwork.
The Leopard
Leopards are generally nocturnal or more active at dusk and in the early hours of the morning. So, finding a leopard with good light and capturing an amazing photo is truly exciting. The leopard’s coat is unique and the exact patterning is specific to each animal. The black spots arranged in small groups are referred to as rosettes and are a beautiful golden color on the back and flanks, while the underside is almost purely white. This disruptive markings and color difference provide the leopard with very effective camouflage, making them a master stalker.
The Process
When painting a wildlife subject, I typically use the animal on the reference photo as the main focus and change a few things if it doesn’t suit the composition. I also usually change the background and foreground to get to the end-result I have envisioned. For this painting, I specifically wanted to focus on the sunlight shining on the leopard from the left-hand side, as I am very obsessed with light and shadow contrast.
Close up view of the first layer of the leopards face
Early stages – first 2 layers
The Challenge
Paint the whole leopard, the beautiful reflection in the water, and the mud around the water were all challenges in their own way. But I was excited about this painting from the beginning and enjoyed the whole process. I knew that if I could accomplish what I envisioned, it would be an amazing painting and in the end, it was.
Conclusion
I am truly proud of this artwork and hope it finds an amazing owner who will enjoy hanging it as a focus point and conversation piece in their home. The framed size of the “A Cautious Drink” is 56″ x 28.5″. If you are interested in purchasing this painting or have something specific in mind, please contact me directly for pricing, shipping, or any other details. All enquiries are welcome!
You can contact me directly at art@ilsewildlife.co.za, or connect with me on Facebook (ILSE Wildlife) or Instagram (ilse_wildlife). I look forward to hearing from you!
Previously Sold Leopard Paintings by Ilse de Villiers
