Wild Things Artwork |
| "Panther on the Prowl" |
17.5"H x 24"W Pastel on Ampersand Pastelbord.
This painting is my second piece based on the mountain lions of Triple D Game Farm, Kalispell, MT. Our Florida panthers are the last surviving members of this magnificent breed of large cats now primarily limited to ranges in the far western states of the U.S.
Triple D affords photographers and artists a unique opportunity to experience these animals up close and personal. I could watch these cats for hours as they move up and around a rock group that catches the early morning sun. Muscles ripple just below their smooth coats, and their eyes (viewed safely through a long telephoto lens!) are just mesmerizing. What captivated me about this particular pose is the sense of imminent movement, the tension in his shoulder as he steps forward to explore what lies on the rock just ahead of him, and the bright light striking the side of his massive ovoid head.
I think that I must have been fixated on "v" patterns for a while, too. "Panther on the Prowl," like Bear Walk @ Avalanche," is filled with powerful "v" patterns. These "v's" augment the sense of motion and tension in the scene.