Sentry Duty

This is my favorite of all the 100 Cheetah paintings, it's #86 or so, oil on a panel done with Alchemist mediums, which have revolutionized my oil painting techniques See www.ambervarnish.com Don Fels has created them after many years of study, by translating texts from the 1600's on how the Flemish masters painted. The pose is inspired by a photo by Michael Moss, see his cheetah of Pinda here http://www.pbase.com/mytmoss/phinda_south_africa_2004_ the photo is used by permission. When ever possible I use my own photo references, but there are no cheetah cubs at Safari West, only adults. I'll also be using some of his family photos for my next project of a mother and 2 cubs. Can you tell I LOVE cheetah? Shaka's Tree (a few posts ago) is now at DeWildt Cheetah and Wildlife Sanctuary donated to auction for the December Gala. http://www.dewildtcheetah.co.za/

I love this small piece (8"x10") because I managed some freedom and a painterly quality without sacrficing the realism...some how its more real and lifelike than when I tighten up with a lot of detail.