Bringing the tiger to life: acrylic animal portrait masterclass

Demo held: Monday, 01 June, 2026

Award-winning artist, Jonathan Newey, celebrated for his nature-inspired drawings and paintings, joined us on 01 June for an inspiring demonstration on creating animal portraits in acrylic paint.

Jonathan Newey's demonstration of painting animal portraits offered LAS members a multi-layered learning experience.

He utilised a variety of materials, including a selection of synthetic brushes, some old ones for fur textures, alongside System3 Acrylics for thicker applications, golden fluid acrylics for lighter layers, and acrylic inks, all applied over three coats of white gessoed MDF, with Payne’s Grey incorporated into the final coat.

Next, we focused on the tiger's eye, where Jonathan mixed thinner paint using white, Yellow Ochre, Cadmium Yellow, and a hint of Payne’s Grey. The highlight for the eye would be added later.

For the fur colour, Jonathan guided us through the stages of his process: starting with darker shades, then gradually moving to lighter ones, and finishing with a transparent white. He used a damp brush with a mix of Yellow Ochre, Burnt Sienna, and Payne’s Grey to facilitate smoother application. The goal was to achieve a progressive tonal range leading to the final touches, with initial work remaining rough.

To enhance the colour and texture of the fur, Jonathan employed an old, frayed brush, applying a mix of thin Yellow Ochre and Titanium White, emphasising directional strokes.

Finally, to ensure the fur achieved the desired colour, Jonathan layered a transparent white glaze over the entire painting. He added the whiskers with a pointed brush, sweeping them in Titanium White for a delicate finishing touch.

The demonstration was a fantastic experience for our members, who left feeling inspired and eager to apply what they had learned. Jonathan's engaging style and the captivating subject matter made for an enjoyable evening, fostering a renewed appreciation for the art of animal portraiture.

The Artist

Jonathan Newey comes from a long line of artists and specialises in drawings and paintings of wildlife, architecture and impressionist landscapes. Learn how to draw animals from his various books and watch him paint an animal portrait in acrylics when he joins us in June.

Visit Jonathan's website here.