29/07/2026
29th July is Global Tiger Day, to raise awareness about the dwindling numbers of tigers in the wild.
I painted this archery target face with acrylic paints on calico. I started it in my acrylic paining class, where I had a student who wanted to paint a tiger. I used it as an opportunity to work on a larger scale and with a bolder and brighter palette of colours. I did the initial drawing with acrylic pens, working upside down, so that the learners could see the image develop (although this did mean that I got the tiger's left eye slightly out of place). 🙈
As the calico was unprimed the paint stayed wet for longer than it would do on a primed canvas, allowing easier blending, but there was a significant strike through of colour onto the cardboard backing. If you are trying something like this cover the backing with clingfilm first to stop the paint sticking.
The colour was built up in stages over two classes and some modifications and details added with the acrylic pens before the target face was installed at Magna Carta Field Archers, where my wife Rachels Archery and I are assistant course setters.
The tiger formed part of a predator and prey target. We were the first people to shoot it. I took all three of my arrows to hit the tiger. Rachel hit it with her first arrow from 60 feet away (bottom right) and was then able to go for the prey animal (a chicken). 🧑🎨 🐅 🎨 🏹