Drawing Tutorials - The Tiger's Appearance

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Drawing tutorials - the tiger's appearance
Tigers stand high on the list when it comes to the number of animals with which an artist needs to be familiar. It seems there are more divergences of opinion on the tiger, his size, his strength, his markings than perhaps any other of the big cats. Some authorities have him growing to be 13' long and 700 lbs. heavy. A 10' tiger (counting tail) is a mighty big one. Many naturalists say the heaviest tigers exceed the largest lions in weight. The fact is, even a 500 lbs. tiger is a giant.
It may be helpful for the artist to know that tigers in northern regions of Asia (northern China, Siberia, Korea) are larger with thicker fur. Grown tigers in southern regions (Sumatra, Java, Bali) are smaller, around 250 lbs, with shorter coats. Southern tigers in warmer climates are more brilliant in color as a rule. Midway geographically, Indian tigers vary in size; the Bengal can be a monster. Where the temperature changes, a big cat in winter may have an 


inch or so longer fur than he'll have in summer. A younger tiger will be richer colored than one in old age who has lost much of his sheen. What was once a sparkling rust orange in a tiger will, in his later years, appear faded. Also what used to be white will be grayish. It is true, on some of the all around darker southern tigers, that which is normally white may appear buff.
When making a sketch of a tiger, like any other subject, one must decide on the density of stroke, whether the work be in pencil or some other medium. Above in fig. 2 is a tiger with a heavier stripe treatment in the center section. This could have been used throughout. Whether the pencil is lightly or heavily used, the stripes should look like fur rather than metal or stone. Develop under drawing lightly in either case however.
 

At right each of the seated tigers has a different kind of stripe. Sometimes it's a mystery to know what to do with stripes on that back leg when it's folded up.
At the loop of the knee, tuck the belly stripe in, then stagger the next stripe on the leg. Observe the chest. Some tigers have a stripe down the chest's center (fig A.) Others do not (figs. B & C). Some have dark striped collars like fig. C. Notice the front legs. They are plain in A, sparingly ringed in B and in C there are a few slashes, confined mostly to the inside of the legs. Also note facial designs.