I had never painted a big cat before, so I was excited to try this black panther.
I used a mix of spray paint, acrylics, and oils for this one. I really enjoyed working with all three and seeing how the painting changed as I added each layer. The spray paint was especially fun because it gave me a different way to build the background before getting into the acrylics and oils.
One part that took more time than I expected was putting together the reference. I knew I wanted flowers surrounding the panther, but I didn’t want to just add random flowers because they looked pretty. I spent quite a bit of time finding flowers that felt like they belonged in the setting I had in mind.
I love the contrast between the dark panther and all the color around her. She has such a strong presence, but the flowers soften everything a little too.
I also recorded a timelapse while I was painting this one. It’s always fun to go back and watch a painting start with those first rough layers and slowly become the finished piece.
This was definitely something different for me, and I’m glad I tried it. Painting something I’ve never painted before can be a little intimidating, but it’s also one of my favorite ways to learn.