Cougar:

As mentioned in the last WHAT'S ON THE EASEL NOW, Jan has been "acquiring experiences" for 25 years. In this photo she is up close and personal with an adult cougar. She has many contacts throughout the U.S. and Canada who have captive, trained animals that she has spent time with. All of them to a person, tell her that of all their animals they trust their cougars the least. They just tend to be more temperamental than any other cat, even lions and tigers!

Those of you who have been following "What's on the Easel now" may remember Jan's first posting - which was of a cougar. This is the same animal. Here is the link to that posting Jan Martin McGuire - Wildlife Artist, Naturalist, Adventurer - Past Works in Progress. Notice that this painting is the #2 idea in the thumbnail sketches. Jan still liked the idea and decided to do it.

Here is the drawing done to size for the 30 x 20" painting.

The cougar and limb have been masked off with the artist masking fluid and saran wrap. This is to protect these areas while Jan is doing the background.

The background has been started.

The background is now completed and the masking materials are removed.

In this photo the cat and the wood were blocked in with dark brown paint. The drawing of the cat was transferred with white transfer paper. Then the wood has been started by painting the texture in off white paint.

The wood is completed ,and Jan has started the off white detailing of the hair for the cougar.

The under "drawing" with off-white paint of the hair coat has been completed, and the brown unifying wash has been applied in preparation of doing the finishing work.

Here is a closeup of the cougar's face completed. Jan always takes particular time to detail out the eyes, believing that that is where the life comes through.

Here is the completed painting which is 30 x 20" and is entitled "OUT ON A LIMB". This painting will be available through Legacy Gallery in Jackson and will be featured at their show "Legacy of Nature" on September 19.

Note: After finishing and posting the painting, Jan decided to add the little branch to the limb that the cougar is standing on. This worked to bring the viewers eye back around in the composition by creating a "circle" with the tail.