1:20 Barbary Lion (Panthera leo leo)-Lions´s Mane effect

I am now concentrated in making a model of a barbary lion with his huge and dense mane...

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I always asked myself why male lions are the only cats with mane, the most distinctive characteristic of them. Someone said that it is used for sexual selection of mates by lionesses, which favours males with the densest and darkest mane.

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After working in sculpting big cats, I realize that lions mane give them the appearance to be much bigger than they really are.

Lions are markedly territorial species, and males are almost exclusively dedicated to defend their “kingdoms”. It clearly explain why having a big mane –transmitting great strength- could be definitive.

Some researches suggest that darkest and longest maned individuals may have longer reproductive lives and higher offspring survival, although they can suffer more in the hottest months of the year. What is clear is that mane length signals fighting success in male–male relationships.

Contrary to what some people think, mane is not always an appropriate marker for identifying subspecies. Environmental factors, such as average ambient temperature, influence the color and size of a lion's mane. It also seems that the testosterone hormone is linked to mane growth. In fact castrated lions often have minimal to no mane.

Any way, mane size has been used to identify some subspecies. The almost extinct Barbary lion normally had an enormous dark mane.  On the contrary, Senegal lions, in West Africa, are well known to be almost maneless. Asiatic lion usually have a moderate sandy mane in a very characteristic shape, growth at the top of the head, with their ears always visible, and scanty on the cheeks and throat with where it is only 10 cm long.

Barbary lion:
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Asiatic lion:

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Senegal lion:

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So, now that I am working in a new model of a Barbary Lion, which is, more or less about the same size of a Siberian tiger, I have to say that, despite I had an scrupulously care about the measures, the lion looks significantly bigger than the tiger.

You can see this effect on the following picture, showing my  models of a siberian tiger and Southeastern african lion (although this tiger is significantly bigger than this lion) :

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...By the way!, as you can see below I have just open a new website and Facebook page. All of you are invited to visit then where you can explore through all my old and new projects...be wellcome!!!

My Webpage
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Mgaret, - I can't thank you enough for letting us follow the development of your awesome, stunning work

I second Susanne's words!
This effect that the mane makes lions look significantly larger we can see in oour toys once lions and tigers are often made in a similar scale. So, when a distracted company uses to make big heads, lions get terrible.
Unless one the vintage companies made a Barbary lion but I can't remember which. Those are impressive lions indeed. I am curious to see it finished and also the Asiatic lion.

Wonderful work and interesting facts about the different lion varieties! Keep us updated!!

Oooo that Barbary lion has a very hairy chest !

Seriously though, Very interesting, thank you, and I love your work !

Thanks you all!!!

I know it looks crazy, but I have started to "paint" my lion before finishing sculpting...

I am using a combined process: "Sculpainting"

here is my palette:

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Sculpainting?

Sounds interesting. Could you show some proces too? Or explain a bit more?
I'm quite curious now

Interesting :)

A-J wrote:

Sounds interesting. Could you show some proces too? Or explain a bit more?
I'm quite curious now

Yes, you have to sculpt your model adding small balls of polymer clay properly colored in accordance with the part of the body you are sculpting. Then once you give it the final texture, it is not necessary to paint it.

The disadvantage is that it is a heavier work.

The advantages are two. The first one is that the coat belongs to the model, not like an external layer of paint. You can perceive that it comes from the interior...The second one is that you can handle the model without the danger of removing the final layer an loose the color.

Here you can see some pictures that could show you the procedure:


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...however, still in the process.

Incredible

Wonderful ! Wonderful ! Wonderful

This piqued my interest.
Question now is: do you paint the polymer clay beforehand or do you buy different colours of clay to use?

I have used clay of different colors from the shop. Then I prepared the appropriate base colors mixing them before using for "sculpainting"...I hope it is clear.

It is clear.
Thank you for your answer.

It looks reallt cool!
Can't wait to see the finished lion

I really like your drawings and model of the head of leon realmentte perfect. I think the process that you realize it very instructive. Thank you Mgarat !

Thankyou all!!!

...and here is my boy!!!

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...a walkaround will follow.

Nice lion :)

The walkaraund I promised:

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That is a real Barb-hairy lion!
Those hairy parts give it a very unusual but impressive look to that creature. Great work once more!

What a majestic looking lion! Great work again!

I'm really interested in your use of different colored clays. Did you also use paint, or did the clay offer enough color without?

I like the result. There aren't as many of the dark maned lions represented, which are more impressive IMO.

Mgarat wrote:

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Two awesome, powerful kings meeting
Mgaret, you had better watch out ! I think that the slightest spark could light a major fight

Great! I really like the contrast of colors and the sense of volume it generates... Congratulations!

bjarki12 wrote:

What a majestic looking lion!  Great work again!

I'm really interested in your use of different colored clays.  Did you also use paint, or did the clay offer enough color without?

No paint at all, only colored clay and barnish...