While I was visiting the Melboune Zoo and I took a few photos of Ramalon, the Sumatran tiger in his enclosure.
I decided to place him in a small water hole for my oil painting.Ramalon, the Sumatran Tiger - Oil Painting by Garry Purcell
- Artwork Name: Ramalon, the Sumatran tiger
- Medium Used: Artist Grade Oil Paint
- Support Type: Gallery Wrap Stretched Canvas (Staples are on the back of the frame.)
- Canvas Size: 24"x36" or (60.9cmx 90.4 cm)
The first step I do is a full greyscale black and white painting.
I mix my own darks using a mixture of ultramarine blue. and burnt umber.
For the whites I use either Titanium white or flake white, depending what I have on my palette (IMy preference is Flake White, as its more Opaque and better suited for under painting)
More Inspiration from the Melbourne Zoo - This Time a Tiger
Sumatran Tiger First layer of oil paint
Small update to the Tiger painting.
The first colour glaze has been applied to the tiers body, I still has a long way to go, before I call it finished.
The layering of transparent colours can take a long time, the secret is to not overload the area you are applying pigment, if you do, it will loose the 3D feel to the painted surface.

Sumatran Tiger a bit further along
Added the next several layers of indian yellow and ultramarine blue paint to the water and reinstated the dark tiger stripes on the Tiger.
The next step is to add more detail. Eyes whiskers etc.

Close up of the Tiger fur oil painting

The Sumatran Tiger finished Oil Painting
Here is the finished oil painting of the Ramalon the Sumatran Tiger, at the Melbourne Zoo.
In the photo below I have layered many coats of transparent paint to build up a 3D effect, and reflection in the dark water surrounding the tiger.

The background in the finished Oil Painting above actually appears darker in real life, than the image portrays.
Ramalon, the Sumatran Tiger - Oil Painting by Garry Purcell
Artwork Name: : Ramalon, the Sumatran tigerMedium Used: Artist Grade Oil Paint
Support Type: Gallery Wrap Stretched Canvas (Staples are on the back of the frame.)
Canvas Size: 24"x36" or (60.9cmx 90.4 cm)