The Story Behind Noble Presence

I've always been drawn to cats.

Big cats, small cats, exotic cats, wild cats, domestic cats—it doesn't really matter. There is something about the confidence, mystery, and intensity they carry that has always captured my attention as an artist.

For many years, cougars found their way into my mosaic work. Their strength and quiet presence made them fascinating subjects. When I began working in colored pencil, however, I wanted to explore something different.

That's when I discovered the reference image that would eventually become Noble Presence.

What immediately struck me was the lion's face. His expression seemed to hold several emotions at once. There was something regal about him, something fierce, and at the same time something almost sad. The longer I looked at the image, the more I felt compelled to create him.

I also wanted to challenge myself with a technique I had never tried before.

Instead of working on a traditional white surface, I chose black museum board as the foundation for the drawing. The dark background allowed me to build the image with layers of colored pencil, gradually developing the highlights, textures, and details of the lion's mane and face.

The process required patience and careful observation, but it was also incredibly rewarding. As the drawing developed, the contrast between the black surface and the colored pencil created a richness and depth that surprised even me.

The finished piece measures only 11 × 14 inches, yet it has a presence that feels much larger. In fact, I've found that Noble Presence often becomes even more striking when reproduced at larger sizes as a fine art print. The details in the mane, the intensity of the eyes, and the character of the expression seem to grow with the image.

Looking back, Noble Presence marked an important step in my artistic journey. It pushed me to experiment with new materials, trust my instincts, and explore a subject that immediately spoke to me.

Even today, it remains one of my favorite pieces and one of the works that most often resonates with others.

Sometimes a photograph catches your attention.

Sometimes a subject inspires you.

And occasionally, a piece seems determined to be created. Noble Presence was one of those pieces.