Snow leopards are a treasured subject of many fellow artists. Although I never was in the Himalayas, I am an experienced mountain hiker, so I can very well imagine having an encounter with such a wonderful cat. Very anxious to paint it, I decided to only paint a portrait since I have never had the opportunity to do field work in Asia, and a very detailed background would not have been appropriate. Game farms and zoos are excellent places to see and to study these amazing cats. They can make unbelievable jumps to catch their prey, using their long, thick tails for balance. Their beautiful fur makes them a target of poachers. One fur coat requires at least five animal skins. This primitive fashion has led to a dramatic decline in the population of the snow leopard. It ranks as one of the highest on the endangered species list. - CB