Leopards

"Just like the old saying, the eyes mirror the soul of an animal.

If you want to paint something so it looks alive, you have to make the eyes right. You can make all kinds of mistakes on the creature's anatomy and colors, but if you screw up the eyes, it will appear lifeless.

I've always been conscious of eyes, on people and animals. You may not believe this, but I can look at the eyes and facial expressions of a screech owl and tell you how many hours since he's eaten. I have spent hours and hours watching the little owls. When they are hungry, they look absolutely ferocious, with incredibly fierce eyes that go right through you.

The eyes of antelope and cows aren't as revealing as those of the predators. Still, if you paint them right, it's like looking into the heart of the animal."