Jaguar - Panthera onca

I was really drawn to this piece. I'm honored to be asked to do this critique. Being very new here and not sure that I'm doing things right. I Hope the Artist understands fully that, Although I work almost exclusively on Scratchboard/Clayboard. I'm not really a Animal artist and I have never enjoyed working on the Brand I believe you use. I made a REAL effort and scrapped it with NOTHING CLOSE to the results you did on this project. Please know ... What I offer up here, is given with a positive vibe. It's meant to help. and it's honest.

Your Third scratch! Wow! First off, You picked a great photo to work from. (Kudo's to them as well.) Thats a important place to start. A Smart Start! You picked a Subject/Surface combo that can explain your Vision well. You get points for that. The Jag ( for short ) is so pleasing to look at. This viewer was drawn right in. What is it looking at? whats out there? Friend or Foe? The Jag seems relaxed, confident & keen. So, on Vision... I gave you 4 stars. I feel like your vision was to do a striking yet calm piece and you really made that happen. I took a little away because of the cropping of the animals right ear. I didn't see ( or maybe didn't know where to look) your reference photo. I'll assume that, you did yours as per their photo and That was the crop. I think the lost tip of that ear lends to a unfinished look. My eye keeps going to it. Wanting to know where it is. With a quick search of the web you could have finished it out. Giving you a complete portrait with the torso falling off into the darkness.

Originality 3 stars ...because it seems you worked straight from the photo. Now had you added that ear tip to the missing one from the reference. I would have scored this higher.

Technique 4 stars. I didn't see anything from you listed as to how you did this piece. Tools used or anything. The results are still Amazing for a third scratch and especially on.....well....anything other than Ampersand scratchboard. Your line quality looks very nice. Hair direction seems correct and its textures very convincing. Except maybe the chest area. It doesn't seem to have been done with the same care as the rest of this Cat. The Eye is clean and sharp as well as being wet & alive. The Teeth are Rock solid. Great job NOT making them overpower the face. Whiskers must be a challenge for most beginners. Because I've seen some questionable ones...Yours look very nice.

Impact....That was a easy one....See Scratchboard Drawing above... 5 stars!