I drew this for an employee at my local Big Lots back in 2024. Over the years and my frequent store trips, we’d become friends and she loved seeing my artwork. She especially appreciated the stages - the WIPS - along the way. Wanting to draw something for her, I asked her favorite animal. It was a tiger.
I started the project in August 2024, showed her the line art and then there was a time gap with other art practice/learning in the works. But eventually, (obviously 
) I did finish it (see the ‘story behind picture’ drop down below 
).
Honestly, I was surprised at how well it turned out. I didn’t quite capture the bright sunny look of the original reference, but pretty much the pose. My siblings paid me a wonderful and accidental compliment when they glanced at my screen - they thought my drawing was the photo reference. 
I think my favorite part is glancing back over the WIPs. It’s amazing to me how crudely the image begins, and how each stage is a sequential, often subtle, improvement from the last. It feels like I always, always, always forget how the rough shapes are only the beginning; and to not only not get discouraged… but to recognize in their unflattering appearance… the promise of the future.
The story with the picture
Not sure how many of y’all are familiar with the Big Lots store chain, but back in the summer of 2024 it filed for bankruptcy. I had made friends of several of the employees at my local stores and was very saddened by the news. Earlier that year, I had begun on drawing a gift sketch for a couple of them (based on their favorite animal). Providentially, there ended up being at least a partial buyout of the chain and about 220 of the Big Lot stores across the US would not be closing down - my friends’ stores included!!!
(But in the hang-time of not knowing, the threat of the store closing by the end of that year definitely gave me a jarring deadline. 
)
In the end, I got the best of both worlds, gifting them their pictures in time for Christmas… while knowing for sure that it wasn’t goodbye! 
BTW, if you’ve seen my Tiger Sketch Summer '24 - yes, this is the same friend. I drew her two different tigers- one digital and one on paper (for when I wasn’t at my computer).
I’m sure she loved it!
Yes, my friend was quite moved.