Under the Canopy (Ocelot)

An ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) treads softly through the bush through dappled morning light. Ocelots are beautiful medium-sized wild cats found across Central and South America, notable for their resplendent combination of stripes and spots. Their beautiful colouration makes them great fun to paint, but I especially love their large, snub noses, which are unusual in cats (they're almost closer to otter or badger proportions). Ocelots are listed as of "Least concern" on the IUCN Red List at the time of painting and are threatened by habitat loss, poaching and traffic.

When I first had the inspiration for this painting I really wanted to portray a luminescent greenish glow from the bounce lights off the surrounding jungle and warm spots of dappled light from above. I created balanced highlights in complimentary green and orange by glazing areas of the painting to enhance specific areas.

This piece is part of my first collection of oil paintings: The Feline Gaze. The collection is due to launch early 2027. Join my newsletter to be among the first to hear the precise launch date and for early-bird access.

Painted in watersoluble oils with acrylic underpainting on cotton canvas.

Wrap-around painting covers the whole canvas with hooks and framer's cord pre-installed , making the finished piece ready to hang without the need of a frame.

Gloss retouch varnish applied to the final piece.

12" x 16" x 3/4"  /  30cm x 40cm x 1.9cm

All my original paintings come ready to hang, with a certificate of authenticity and a free pair of cotton gloves for ease of handling. Please refer to the Delivery and Returns page for shipping rates and policies.

Reference image credits:

Stock photo ID: 174673263 | GP232