One Cool Kitty-Kat

Drawing an Ocelot

Prints, posters, stationery cards, and signed fine art reproductions  

are available for purchase in my Etys shop at: 

 www.etsy.com/shop/TimJeffsArt

Ocelot. 11x17" Ballpoint Pen and Ink wash

I recently visited our local county zoo at Van Saun Park in Paramus, New Jersey which has an Ocelot in captivity, and as soon as I saw it, this amazing looking animal had "draw me" written all over it! Beautiful patterns cover this small cat. Also know at the dwarf leopard, just a perfect nickname, the ocelot looks very much like a domestic cat, but with an amazing patterned fur coat that resembles a jaguar or leopard. So when I started sketching out a composition I really wanted to capture this crossover between domestic and wild animals. I love how house cats patiently sit in a position staring at something intensely, and at any moment they snap out of that trance and pounce with incredible speed. So i decided to try to capture that moment right before they jump! 

Living throughout South and Central America Ocelots have been sighted as far north as southern Texas and Arizona. Ocelots were killed in the Hundreds of Thousands for their fur and were classified as "vulnerable" until 1996 when they were protected. They are now considered "least concern" due to these conservation efforts. They are nocturnal and very territorial. Ocelots have been know to be kept as pets, and Salvador Dali being the most famous owner traveled with his pet Ocelot named "Babou". 

Salvador Dali and his pet Ocelot "Babou"

Here are some photos taken during my drawing process

Here's the finished drawing

Prints, posters and signed fine art reproductions are available 

for purchase in my Etys shop at: 

 www.etsy.com/shop/TimJeffsArt

Portrait of a King

Drawing a Lion, the King of Beasts

Prints, posters and signed fine art reproductions are available 

for purchase in my Etys shop at: 

 www.etsy.com/shop/TimJeffsArt

Lion. 11x17" Ballpoint Pen and Ink wash

Here's a sad fact. About 10,000 years ago the lion was the most widespread large land mammal after humans. Now there are only 32,000 of them, down from 200,000 just a century ago. Yet they are still not declared an endangered species. And what really shocked me was that Between 1999 and 2008, more than 7,500 lions were killed for sport. Fifty-five percent of those individuals were shipped to the United States, just terrible! I can only hope that this changes and people realize how fragile these incredibly strong animals are.

Lions to me are one of the most beautiful and majestic cats. The male lion really does fit his name, and looks like a king. My goal for this drawing was to create a character the says I'm proud, I'm strong, and I'm not going to look at you for pity. This is one of first animals in my series that is looking away, and not directly at the viewer. The other goal for me was to conquer drawing hair. Hair has always been a challenge for me to draw. So what better subject to get over my fear of hair then drawing a lions mane! Below are a series of photos I took as I drew. I'm slowly getting better at documenting my drawings as I do them. I hope you enjoy my time lapse shots. And if anyone has any question about my process, please don't hesitate to write, or comment on this blog. I would be happy answer anything and will get back to you as soon as possible. Thanks for looking.

Starting with the eye. I always do

My pen of choice. Uniball PowerTank .05

The mouth is done.

Inking in part of the background

Working on the Mane

Close up of the Mane

Layers of lines.

I always start and then finish with the eye. Adding the finishing touches.

Now it's Personal!

Helping to Save the Jaguars of Panama

Drawing "Darien" for the Panama Wildlife Conservation

Exclusive Conservation Print Available for purchase. 
A percentage of each sale will go directly to help Panama's amazing Jaguars

 www.etsy.com/shop/TimJeffsArt

Darien. 11x17" Ballpoint Pen and Ink wash

When I opened an email from Dr Luis Urena, a Panamanian Biologist living in London, a few weeks ago I instantly stop what I was doing. After seeing my artwork and my love of  animals he wrote me requesting assistance in developing  a piece of art to promote his cause, saving jaguars in his native Panama. He had decided to start a Conservation group for Panama called "Panama Wildlife Conservation" and was dedicating his time and efforts into building awareness and saving Panama's incredible natural resources and endangered animals.

Darien.  Copyright © 2013 Luis Urena

Attached to his email were personals photos that he had taken of Darien, a rescued jaguar from the illegal animal trade in Panama. Darien is living in Summit Botanical Gardens and is being rehabilitated. As soon as I saw his absolutely beautiful photos of Darien my thoughts were "I have to be a part of this!" The photos he send me (you can see more of them lower on this post) were so intimate, such up-close and personal images of this absolutely incredible creature. As I looked at the images I felt like I was looking into the eyes of a animal that I knew.

I instantly connected with Luis's photos because they took on the same purpose as my drawing. To have to viewer stop, and look into the face, into the eyes, of creature that needs help, that has feeling and emotions, and has astonishing beauty. Something all of us need to realize and make a different in protecting.

I wrote back to Luis and told him I wouldn't do a commission for him, but instead would gladly volunteer to create a piece for his cause which he could then use for his organization. It was my first chance to use my art for the purpose of giving something back to the animals I love so much.

Over the next 3 days I drew Darien and send the finished drawing back to Dr Urena, which he was very excited about and immediately implemented into the image to promote his cause. My Darien drawing will be printed on t-shirts, coffee mugs and other merchandise to raise Charitable funds for Conservation efforts in Panama. Something I am very proud to be a part of. I'm also going to contribute a percentage of any sales that I make of my "Darien" print in my shop to the Panama Wildlife Conservation. I'm offering a variety of prints of Darien for sale which you can see here:

www.etsy.com/shop/TimJeffsArt

My hope is to do this for other endangered animals. I love to draw, I love animals, and I love to draw animals, and if something I love to do can help the subjects that make me motivated to create, then I've finally made the personal connection I've been looking for.

Detail of the Darien's head

Detail of the Darien's eyes. How can you resist him!

Darien's drawing in process. 

Working on his eyes

Here the head is almost complete. 

Meet Darien

Photos Copyright © 2013 Luis Urena

Summit Park wildlife rehabilitation center, Panama