Leopard/Cheetah Fur Question?

[Argonor]

What colour(s) is/are best used when painting said fur(s), please?

I think a 'pure' light orange would look too artificial/plastic-like, so I would welcome suggestions about which actual paints (name and manufacturer(s)) you gentlemen apply to this task?

I simply do not have the patience to experiment right now, and would like to get it reasonably right at the first go. 

[Sir Rodney Ffing]

I have just finished painting a North Star leopard I am fairly happy with.  After staring at photos for a while, I decided there is no one "right" colour with shares varying from off white to something approaching orange. 

I started with a brown undercoat and then used Vallejo Sand Yellow mixed with German Camouflage Orange Ochre as the main colour.  On its own the Sand Yellow looked to damn yellow! I added the spots with German Camouflage Medium Brown (a very useful colour to have, thank you Germany!) and a 00000 brush and then planned to fill in the centres with neat Orange Ochre, which I saw on some of the photos. However, when it came to that point I lost my nerve, deciding it probably wouldn't add much and risked my having to start again.  I then used Vallejo Ivory to lighten the underside of the body and the muzzle/mouth area, paint the teeth and add some whiteness to the eyes.  A little dab of black wash in the eye socket gave a good result, although I suspect my leopard wouldn't get many take-ups on a safari date night. Final touch was a coat of Army Shade strong tone with a brush, taking care not to let too much pool in the crevices, and then a matt varnish 24 hours later.

Reading that, I really do talk a good game, don't I?  I'm not sure a photo would back it up, but in any event I don't know how to post one so that is a moot point anyway.

It worked for me, and I hope the above is some help.  Good luck to you!

[Argonor]

Helps a lot, as I have some pointers now, to lead me in a direction, thanks for taking the time!

My main concern is also to end up with a too unnatural looking colour, so your thoughts are very helpful.

Posting a picture is easy, actually - when making a post, below the typing window is a link to 'Additional options' -> Attach (click 'choose file' or something like that (I see it in Danish), browse your computer and select the picture, and there you have it when submitting the post. 

[Steve F]

Posting a picture is easy, actually - when making a post, below the typing window is a link to 'Additional options' -> Attach (click 'choose file' or something like that (I see it in Danish), browse your computer and select the picture, and there you have it when submitting the post. 

It's worth using the preview button before hitting "post", too, to check the picture isn't upside down or on its side - there have been a rash of those lately.

[Argonor]

It's worth using the preview button before hitting "post", too, to check the picture isn't upside down or on its side - there have been a rash of those lately.

  that too.

[dinohunterpoa]

Argonor, talking from personal experience, I can say that african leopards have basically 4 simple colors only: black for the spots, white in the underside, plain yellow in the upper side and a kind of mustard inside the bigger rosettes.

Check this out:  



And don't forget LOTS of white in the underside:



In the light of the savanna, the contrast with the yellow upper and the white underside gives an overall faded colour; it really looks like subdued tones of gray in the early evening hours - a perfect camo for a nocturnal predator.

On the other hand, the bright midday sun through the canopy of a dense rainforest (like in Central Congo) makes the cat looks strangely bright yellow!



Talking about miniatures, I think this one from Schleich really captures the colours and pattern of a real leopard in the savanna:



 

[Argonor]

I can't see the first pic, but your points are duly noted.

It might be worth getting that toy for reference?

[dinohunterpoa]

I can't see the first pic, but your points are duly noted.

It might be worth getting that toy for reference?

Strange, because I can see the picture!    But I've uploaded it from my PC anyway... hope more visible this time! 

Yes, that Schleich leo is worth for reference, IMHO.

Glad to help! Please let us know how your cats turned out to be! 

[Argonor]

Strange, because I can see the picture!    But I've uploaded it from my PC anyway... hope more visible this time! 

Yes, that Schleich leo is worth for reference, IMHO.

Glad to help! Please let us know how your cats turned out to be! 

This works, thanks!