Illlustrator final project

When I try duplicating the tiger to make gradient mesh its giving me funny mesh lines…almost like there is an outline of the tiger underneath …?

Thank you!

Can you make into one shape?

Try drawing the tiger in pieces, when it’s one big shape the lines get wonky.
ex. head one piece, ears another piece, tails a third… body separately…

Thank you ! that works!

I keep trying to make a clipping mask with the tiger but it’s coming out like this-
I put the tiger with the stripes on top and selected both…

are they one on top of the other?

yes

clipping shape should be above the item being clipped - it’s the opposite from PS