Tiger Asymmetry

I realized recently that, while I love tigers, I had not drawn or painted many. I think I felt they’re too obvious, too delicious a subject. But that’s not a good reason not to draw them. So on a recent vacation I set myself the task of studying tiger faces and tiger asymmetry through drawing. The final study, above, is 18 x 24 inches, white and black charcoal on kraft paper.

The images below show the piece in progress, as well as the improvised addition I made to my easel where I worked in the house we were renting.

What I learned over three days (about 8 hours of actual drawing time) is how important every pencil stroke’s direction can be to defining form, and many details about how a tiger’s face is arranged.

I realized that if I didn’t get the eyes right I would have to start over, so I got right to it.

Most fun I have ever had with a broom.

The final drawing session, from the shot above to the finished study, was about three and a half hours that felt like thirty minutes. I was in flow.

I don’t see myself doing this kind of rendering often, but I needed to dust off and explore these skills again on my way to my next pieces.