Hey, Mick Well, I guess this seems insanely obvious, but the first thing to do is find a photograph of some leopards, usually easy in the kids section of the library. I really got into this on my big Le Cimier Hussar. Though the spots appear random, they are not at all, and as with pinto horses, the whole pattern originates just in front of the rear legs, as does the color gradation. I wish I had a buck for every beautiful Napoleonic mounted figure screwed up by a poorly realised leopardskin shabraque. The problem, I think, is a standard one for us-- we look at other painter's work( including 2d artwork and illustration) for the wrong kind of inspiration when the "real thing" is readily available to us.
john