References & the Panther Head

1. Import and align reference images

Add Sketches with the three panther views (Downloads below) placed in Top, Front and Side, accept, and center the reference cube with Artisan Center.

2. Create and position the ring curve reference

Create a Curve for the USA region at size 6.5 — the ring reference. Rotate the images 90° to match it, then another 180° to orient them, scale uniformly from the Front view with Shift, and lock them on an object layer.

3. Block out the panther head with Sub-D

A SubD Sphere becomes the skull — proportioned in the Front view with its faces oriented to serve the muzzle. With the Face filter, select the four ear-area faces, extrude from the Front view, and scale, rotate and reposition against the reference, using edge loops for finer control.

4. Shape the head, back connection, and symmetry

Extrude the four front faces into the muzzle, then the back four stretched long — that’s the future shank connection. Adjust the width from the Right view, and activate Reflect from there (Osnap, top and bottom center points) so from now on one side models both.

5. Add the mouth opening and refine the top view

Insert an edge loop for the mouth in the lower section and position it from the Front view. Select the mouth face, switch the Gumball to Object mode, extrude inward and scale horizontally. Rotate the references 90° from the Top view (unlock, rotate, relock) and refine the head from that angle before parking the model on a hidden layer.