Oil on canvas, stretched and ready to hang.

Signed on the front.

This artwork comes with an external frame

Winner Best Oil Painting, Mt View Art Show 2023.
This is Big Daddy, old warrior lion and father of many cubs.
While in Botswana in Moremi Reserve, I saw this lion nearly every morning and he was so amiable with his cubs, unlike some lions. I first painted him a few years ago with one of his cubs, who had been jumping all over him, and called it 'Big Daddy and Me'. The painting won an award. Here he is on his own, just relaxing in the sun.
I wanted to capture the warm, golden light on the front of his face, contrasted with the pale, cool shadows on the side. I chose to do a portrait-style background to really set off the contrast and make him stand out. It took many layers of oil, delicate fur work and glazing to achieve the desired effect, and make him become alive.
He is painted on superfine, deep-edged canvas and is ready to hang in a beautiful, natural wood box frame.
Gamvar satin varnish has been applied.