Snow Leopard Resting in a Flowering Thicket

A snow leopard lies among tall flowers and roots, its lilac head turned to one side with amber eyes and a cream chest ruff. Dark rosettes spread over a coat that shifts from pale lilac on the shoulders to orange and coral on the haunch and the thick curled tail, which ends in a black tip. Tiny hikers live on its back: three wooden huts stand on the ridge of the spine, a rope bridge crosses a hollow, and small climbers trek along the flank. Pink mushrooms grow beside the tail. All around, red lilies, orange spikes, blue fern leaves, teal star flowers and pale green rosettes fill the frame. The cat's spots and tail make strong shapes, so the coat, the huts and the plants fall into separate colour groups.