Thursday, April 2, 2009

"Tiger Pool" - Oil Painting


Oils on canvas 50 by 70cm

I have been working on this painting for several months. At last, it is finished. After visiting SA and seeing these beautiful animals at Jukani, I am inspired to paint them.

The tiger (Panthera tigris) is a member of the Felidae family; the largest of the four “big cats” in the genus Panthera. Native to much of eastern and southern Asia, the tiger is an apex predator and an obligate carnivore. Reaching up to 4 metres (13 ft) in total length and weighing up to 300 kilograms (660 pounds), the larger tiger subspecies are comparable in size to the biggest extinct felids. Aside from their great bulk and power, their most recognizable feature is the pattern of dark vertical stripes that overlays near-white to reddish-orange fur, with lighter underparts. The largest subspecies of tiger is the Siberian tiger.

They are territorial and generally solitary animals, often requiring large contiguous areas of habitat that support their prey demands. This, coupled with the fact that they are endemic to some of the more densely populated places on earth, has caused significant conflicts with humans. Of the eight subspecies of modern tiger, two are extinct and the remaining six are classified as endangered, some critically so. The primary direct causes are habitat destruction and fragmentation, and hunting.

4 comments:

artbykarieann said...

Congratulations I've awarded you the passion for painting blog award, copy it from my blog and pass it on!

Wildlife Painter said...

Wow - stunning pictures. I recently visited India in the hope of spotting some Tigers up in Rajastan. Unfortunately we didn't spot any so my next painting will hhave to be done from pictures from a book!

I love you technique!

Avril Brand said...

Thank you for such a lovely honour!! I have been absent for a while and it is a great surprise!!!

Avril Brand said...

Thank you Wildlife Painter... Oh what a great pity that you could not get good pics and spot a tiger in the wild. That is an unforgettable experience. On my recent trip to South Africa I was fortunate to be able to take great photos on safari but tigers (not indigenous to Africa) can only be found in sanctuaries so I can imagine your disappointment.