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From Sketch to finished painting: How I create my wildlife art

Taking you through my journey from inspiration, sketch to finished painting

Vicky Whitlam

8/11/20263 min read

A realistic painting of a wild hare showing detailed fur textures, amber eyes, and long ears on white paper.

From Sketch to Finished Painting: How I Create My Wildlife Art

There is something very special about taking a simple idea on a piece of paper and watching it slowly develop into a finished painting.

When I create my wildlife artwork, I don't usually begin with a blank canvas and immediately start painting. There is a process behind each piece, and for me, that process begins with a sketch.

It all starts with an idea

My inspiration often comes from the wonderful wildlife that surrounds us here in Yorkshire and across the British countryside.

I might see a photograph of a particular animal or bird, notice an interesting pose or expression, or simply be inspired by the character of a particular creature.

I love animals with personality, so I'm always looking for that little something that makes an animal come alive on the page.

Before I start painting, I spend time thinking about the composition, the position of the animal and how I want the finished artwork to feel.

The first sketch

The sketch is where I start to work out my ideas.

At this stage, I'm not worrying about colour or tiny details. I'm concentrating on getting the shape, proportions and pose right.

A few simple lines can make a surprising difference. I might alter the position of the head, change the direction the animal is looking or make small adjustments to the body until I feel that I've captured the character I want.

I think of the sketch as the foundation of the painting. If the foundation is right, I can then start building everything else around it.

Bringing in the colour

This is probably one of my favourite parts of the process.

Once I'm happy with the drawing, I can start thinking about colour.

Although I paint British wildlife, I don't always want my paintings to look exactly like a photograph. I love bringing my own style and personality into the artwork, and colour plays a huge part in that.

I often enjoy using bright, lively colours and experimenting with combinations that help the animal stand out while still keeping its character recognisable.

Sometimes the colours develop exactly as I imagined them. Other times, the painting takes me in a completely different direction!

And that's part of the fun.

Building up the painting

As the painting develops, I gradually build up the layers of colour and detail.

I look carefully at the animal's eyes, markings, fur or feathers and the little details that make it unique.

At the same time, I'm thinking about the background and how it works with the subject.

I don't want the background to compete with the animal. Instead, I want it to help bring the subject forward and create a feeling around the painting.

This is the stage where the original sketch starts to disappear beneath the layers of paint and the finished artwork begins to emerge.

The finishing touches

One of the hardest parts of painting is knowing when to stop!

There is always another little detail that could be added, another colour that could be changed or another area that could be worked on.

Eventually, though, I reach the point where I have to step back and look at the painting as a whole.

Does the animal have the character I wanted?

Do the colours work together?

Does the painting make me smile?

If the answer is yes, then I know it's finished.

From a simple sketch to something to treasure

Looking back at the original sketch once a painting is finished is always fascinating.

What began as a few simple lines has become a complete piece of artwork with its own character and personality.

That's what I love about painting wildlife.

Every animal has something different about it, and every painting gives me another opportunity to capture that individuality in my own colourful style.

Whether it's a inquisitive hare, a beautiful bird or another favourite piece of British wildlife, I hope my paintings bring a little bit of nature, colour and joy into people's homes.

And perhaps the next time you see one of my paintings, you'll look at it slightly differently — knowing that behind the finished artwork was a simple sketch, a little inspiration and many layers of paint.

Thank you for following my artistic journey and supporting my work.

If you'd like to see my latest wildlife artwork and available prints, please take a look around my website. And if you have a much-loved pet you'd like me to paint, you can also find out more about my bespoke pet portraits.