What's included

    1. Welcome to my online class

    2. Watercolour Snow Leopard Tutorial

    3. Copyright information

    4. How to keep your paper flat (stretching)

    5. Watercolour Snow Leopard - Downloadable files

    6. Watercolour Snow Leopard tutorial video

About this class

  • $55.00
  • Lifetime access
  • Instant delivery
  • On demand

Watercolour Snow Leopard Tutorial

In this intermediate tutorial, Louise demonstrates how to paint a snow leopard using soft wet-on-wet washes, carefully controlled paint consistency, and a few well-placed finishing details.

Throughout the class, you’ll learn how to suggest the softness and texture of fur without painting every individual hair. Working on damp paper allows the markings to soften naturally, while thicker pigment helps the leopard’s spots hold their shape and character.

You’ll also focus on creating expressive eyes, soft facial structure, natural fur markings, and subtle colour temperature shifts using a limited palette. This class is especially useful for practising value control, soft edges, and knowing when to let the paint move freely.

What You’ll Learn:
  • Painting soft animal fur with wet-on-wet washes
  • Varying paint consistency to control how far pigment spreads
  • Creating soft, fuzzy edges around the body and face
  • Mixing lively greys and blacks from French Ultramarine and Transparent Sienna
  • Using warm and cool colour shifts to add depth to pale fur
  • Painting snow leopard spots so they stay soft but still hold their shape
  • Simplifying complex fur patterns without losing realism
  • Building expressive blue eyes with layered colour and careful highlights
  • Painting pupils and dark eye markings with crisp dry-paper detail
  • Shaping the nose with soft shadows, nostrils, and subtle warmth
  • Using lifted highlights to bring forward areas of white fur
  • Adding whiskers, fine hairs, and titanium white details without overworking the painting
Artist’s Insight:
The main lesson in this painting is that fur does not need to be painted hair by hair to look convincing. By working on wet paper and adjusting the thickness of the paint, the spots and shadows soften into the surface, creating a natural sense of texture and depth.

This class also shows the importance of patience and timing. When the paper is too wet, the spots spread too far; when it is just damp enough, the marks soften beautifully while still keeping their shape. Learning to recognise that stage is one of the most useful skills in watercolour, especially when painting animals and wildlife.
Watercolour Snow Leopard Tutorial Painting
Watercolour Snow Leopard Tutorial Fullscreen View

Class Preview

Watch a short preview and see what is included in this class.

Checklist

Here's what you get with this class.

  • Supplies list

  • Colour reference photo

  • Line drawing to trace on to your paper

  • Multiple progress photos

  • Photo of the completed painting

  • Full length instructional video showing how to complete the painting

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is your refund policy?

    We think you'll love our classes, but if you're not absolutely satisfied within 30 days, just contact us at [email protected] and we'll refund your purchase, no questions asked.

  • For how long do I have access to the class?

    You have lifetime access. Your content doesn't expire, so you can come back and revisit it anytime.

  • What supplies do I need?

    A supplies list is included with each class, however we do encourage you to work with what you already have.

Dive into Watercolours

No Traffic, No Timetable, No Worries

Online courses are not just convenient, they're better. In our online classes, you get to pause, rewind, and revisit any part of the lesson you want. Missed a stroke? No dramas! Just go back and watch it again. Plus, all our classes are filmed in real-time and fully voiced over. That means you'll catch every stroke, every detail, and every step you need to nail that painting. It's like having a personal tutor on your screen, only better, because you're in total control. So what are you waiting for? Grab a brush, hit 'play', and let's get painting!
Louise De Masi sitting at her desk and looking at the camera.

Student Works

Here are a few student works painted from this tutorial.


Instructor

Meet your teacher for this class.

Louise De Masi

Watercolour Artist

Louise De Masi is a professional watercolour artist and qualified teacher based on the Mid North Coast of NSW, Australia. She has over 23 years’ experience as an artist and has been teaching watercolour online since 2011.

Louise’s calm, step-by-step approach focuses on helping students understand how watercolour works, so they can paint with more confidence and enjoyment.

Her work has been sold and licensed worldwide, and she has co-written a book on painting sea life in watercolour.

Social proof: testimonials

“I am taking an in person class and I learned more here today [in this YouTube video] than I have in 6 weeks of the class… Signing up based on this video!”

Irene

“You are an outstanding teacher and are always so explicit with your instructions that you make it almost impossible for us to fail when following your tutorials. You have a wealth of information that you are always so happy to share with us. I have not as yet found another teacher who teaches as well as you and I have certainly watched thousands of You Tube tutorials. You are the best and deserve all the recognition you get!”

Marion

“Just finished watching this tutorial (I always watch them before starting to paint them) and I wanted to say it's so helpful to have the reference photo showing while you paint. I find myself thinking what I would do next and where I would add color and then when you do it too I know I'm learning -- even before I put paint to paper. Thank you for your explanations and thorough descriptions of what you are doing. You are the best teacher!”

Bonnie

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