My First Wildlife Sketch on Canvas
Experimenting with new materials is an important part of growing as an artist. While most of my wildlife sketches are created using graphite and charcoal on paper, I recently decided to try something a little different—working with charcoal on a stretched canvas.
The photo accompanying this post shows the very beginning of a new piece: a cheetah sketch on an A2 stretched canvas. What you’re seeing is about one hour of work. It captures the early stages of the drawing process, where the structure, proportions, and first layers of charcoal begin to take shape.
A New Surface to Work With
This was my first time attempting a charcoal wildlife sketch on canvas. Normally I work on paper, which has a very predictable texture and surface for building up layers of graphite and charcoal. Canvas, however, behaves quite differently.
The tooth of the canvas is much more pronounced than most drawing papers, which means the charcoal catches in the weave of the fabric. This creates a slightly rougher texture and changes the way lines and shading develop across the surface. It requires a slightly lighter hand and a different approach to building tonal values.
At the same time, the canvas offers something interesting: a sense of scale and presence that feels closer to a traditional painting surface, even though the medium remains charcoal.
The Subject: A Cheetah
For this piece I chose one of Africa’s most iconic predators, the cheetah. Known for its incredible speed and elegant form, the cheetah has always been a fascinating subject to observe and photograph in the wild.
When beginning a wildlife sketch like this, the first stage is always about structure. The initial charcoal marks focus on placing the key features—head position, body proportions, and the distinctive facial markings that make the cheetah instantly recognisable. These early lines are light and exploratory, gradually building towards the more defined forms that will come later in the process.
Capturing the Process
The photo shows only a glimpse of that early stage.
Although the finished piece will take many more hours to complete, the first hour is often the most important. It establishes the foundation on which the rest of the drawing will be built.
Stepping Outside the Usual Routine
Trying charcoal on canvas is very much an experiment for me. As someone who usually works with graphite and charcoal on paper, exploring a new surface is both challenging and exciting. Each material behaves differently, and learning how charcoal responds to canvas opens up new possibilities for texture, scale, and presentation.
Part of being an artist is continually learning and pushing beyond familiar techniques, and this piece is a small step in that direction.
Follow the Progress
This cheetah sketch is still in its early stages, and I look forward to sharing more of the process as the artwork develops. Watching a wildlife drawing evolve from the first rough marks into a finished piece is always a rewarding journey.
If you enjoy seeing behind the scenes of wildlife art, keep an eye on the blog and my social media channels where I regularly share new sketches, works in progress, and wildlife photography from the field.