Lion Painting by Ilse de Villiers
“Eye Contact”
As a wildlife artist, painting lions has always been a passion of mine. Known as the “Lion King”, these super-predators embody strength and dominance in the African bushveld makes them a unique and fascinating subject to paint.
The Inspiration
How can one claim to be a wildlife artist & not also paint the most well-known member of the Big 5- the Lion!
It’s a bit of a personal joke, but I always say there are male lions that are quite handsome, & other’s that are downright ugly (unattractive). For obvious reasons I lean towards the more attractive ones, as one would not want to eternalize a big cat on a canvas if it’s not at least awesome to look at.
The reference photo I chose was taken by talented wildlife photographer Andries van Rensburg.
I found the face-on stare & obvious eye contact that it made with the photographer, both intriguing & intimidating. I hoped that if I could capture that on canvas, it would have the same effect on the one looking at the artwork.
The Lion’s Nature
Lions are not solitary animals, and their territories are held by partnerships or coalitions of males. Their roaring serves as a form of communication and a way of marking their territory. It was important for me to keep this in mind while painting “Eye Contact”. These super-predators dominate the bushveld predator hierarchy and are definitely deserving of the name “Lion king”. They are social by nature & form groups known as prides. Combining their strength they are able to kill much bigger prey and are, more times than not, guaranteed a successful hunt.
In “Eye Contact”, I wanted to bring the lion to life on the canvas, to capture his strength, presence and power. The Lion’s piercing gaze creates a sense of connection between the animal and the onlooker. The detail in the fur, muscles, and eyes help to create a lifelike representation of the lion, making it a true masterpiece for any wildlife art collector.
Leonardo da Vinci
“The artist sees what others only catch a glimpse of.”
Focus of the Painting
I had a bit of a ‘mind-thing’ going with this painting, focusing on the opposite effects of Vertical shapes & lines vs Horizontal shapes & lines.
The focus of the painting is the lion walking towards the onlooker, patrolling his territory. A large muscular lion approaching you would immediately conjure up a state of ‘alertness’. This feeling is strengthened by the fact that the outline of the lion represents a vertical shape, creating an awareness, a “sit up & take note-feeling” & an attentiveness.
Horizontal lines do the exact opposite:
On the reference photo there was an indication of shadows falling across the path that the lion was following &I decided to take that idea & work with it. Using one’s imagination, one could well think of stumps or trees of to the left that would throw these shadow over the terrain the lion is walking. I consequently purposefully placed horizontal shadow lines behind & in front of the lion.
Horizontal lines are calming & tranquil- think of the horizontal lines in a landscape, a seascape or then even of lions lying down, sleeping. I used the horizontal lines to counteract some of the ‘alertness’ of the lion approaching.
Light/Shadow Contrast
Once again I focused on strong light/shadow contrast as it is the effect that I like most to accentuate in a painting. I obviously always strive for a realistic finish as I aspire to have the onlooker imagine he/she is getting a true glimpse into an African bushveld scene.
Lion Painting on Exhibition
Whenever I get the privilege to exhibit my paintings abroad, it’s my intent to truly represent Africa’s wildlife & nature. Just for a few precious minutes I want viewers to feel as though they are transported to the African bush. Ultimately I want them to see Africa & it’s wildlife for the wonder & abundance it represents & I want to present it in a way that will make them long to visit our beautiful country.
The framed size of this Lion painting Eye Contact is: 48.5” x 32”
SEWE 2023
“Eye contact” will be part of my exhibit at The Southeastern Wildlife Exposition SEWE 16-19 February 2023
Feel free to contact me directly for info on pricing, shipping or any other info.
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 Lion Paintings by Ilse de Villiers
