Artists for Conservation
Sunday November 16, 2008
Great news! I am now a member of the AFC or Artist’s for Conservation. The AFC is an exciting place where artists are able to aid conservation causes by selling their works and pledging portions of the proceeds to causes around the world. Many of my sculptures and drawings are now for sale on their site. I have chosen conservation efforts appropriate to the subject matter of each piece. For example: African Elephant Conservation Trust for Amboseli Tusker and the Humane Society International for Pudge. To see more of my work and the conservation efforts they are supporting visit The Artists for conservation websiteComments* * *Hyena Animation
Thursday November 13, 2008
When I was in Africa sketching and sculpting my brother Peter was constantly filming. I just got my hands on the footage. I find drawing from footage to be an effective way to study the natural gestures animals make that can be missed otherwise. The hyena animation was done with water color and a brush pen on 12 field animation paper. The timing is a bit clunky I’m still trying to figure out this compression stuff.Comments [5]* * *My Last Lions
Sunday November 9, 2008
In the evening we watched a female with three rowdy cubs wrestling and tumbling in the long shadows of the evening. The next morning hiding from the sun beneath a tree was a large male lion. He was to be the last lion I would see on our safari.
Soon I found myself back on a series of flights pointed towards the states. My trip to Africa was life changing. To anyone who has ever considered going I say go! You won’t regret it. Africa is a primal place where you can feel the heartbeat of the earth under the galloping hooves of wildebeest. A place where elephants still migrate and lions stalk in the tall golden grass of the savannah. Kenya, despite its political problems, is a place full of good people committed to preserving their greatest assets; wildlife and wilderness. It’s comforting to know that there are still places in this world, which are truly wild.
* * *Samburu Birds
Thursday November 6, 2008Instead of eating lunch I chose to draw and paint some of the local avian life. Lured by a small pile of bread crumbs, several Red-billed Hornbills swooped in for a free meal. They were soon followed by Bristle Crowned Starlings and the much larger Go-away Bird.
Red-Billed Hornbill
Bristle Crowned Starling
Go-away Bird* * *Amboseli Tusker Bronzed
Sunday November 2, 2008While in Africa I did a plein air sculpture of a Tusker I saw in Amboseli National Park. I am pleased to report that the first bronze has been completed at the foundry with three more in the wax phase. The patination is slightly different than my previous bronzes, a bit of green and white on top of the traditional bronze. The piece is entitled Amboseli Tusker and is in an edition of 15. The second bronze will be going to the Smith Klien Gallery in Boulder Colorado along with Mother and Child Reunion and Tiger Yawn. I have added Amboseli Tusker to the portfolio section, with multiple views.
Sculpting onsite in Africa
Final BronzeComments [4]* * *Inside the Yellow Box
Friday October 31, 2008One of the greatest things about going on safari in Kenya was that I felt like I was walking in the pages of National Geographic. I have a huge collection of their magazines and books. When I returned from my safari I jumped out of my skin when I saw the September edition. There was a large article written by David Quammen with photographs by Mike Nichols entitiled “ Family Ties, the Elephants of Samburu.”
September 2008 issue
Both David And Mike are leaders in their respective fields. I have most of David Quammen’s publications: “Monster of God,” “The Song of The Dodo” and the “Reluctant Mr. Darwin.” David Quamen’s writing transports the reader to far off corners of the earth. He has the uncommon talent of explaining complex science without being too dry.
Monster of God
Mike Nichols has been National Geographic’s premiere “adventure” photographer for some time. His knack for photographing dangerous animals has earned him the nick name the “Indiana Jones of photography.” He has a great website with observations and tips.
Check it out!
Mike NicholsThe article itself is fascinating. It features the great elephant research and conservation effort of Iain Douglas-Hamilton who heads the Save The Elephant.org. The entire article spotlights the elephants of Samburu and the scientists who study them. On National Geogrpahic’s website they have the entire article along with pictures and video.
visit the aricleSamburu was the last reserve we visited. The landscape is a far cry from the lush grasslands of the Mara. It is dry, full of bushes and thickets. Samburu is one of the few strongholds for Grevy’s Zebra and as I mentioned in a previous post perfect habitat for gerenuks. Despite the seemingly harsh conditions of Samburu it supports a large population of elephants.
pen & ink, watercolorThe red adobe color mud found in the rivers and waterholes of Samburu colors the rough wrinkled skin of the elephants red. The elephants use the mud to bathe, dust and cool off in. Now as I look through the pages of National Geographic and see familiar places I feel in a small way that I was able to walk inside the yellow box of National Geographic.
pen & ink* * *African Diary- gerenuk
Friday October 24, 2008
Gerenuks are both beautiful and bizarre, their Swahili name is Swala Twigga which translated directly is gazzelle giraffe. In keeping with the Swahili description our driver preferred to call them giraffe gazelle instead of gerenuk. I have to agree it’s much more descriptive. Gerenuk’s are exclusively browsers. The strangest thing about the gerenuks is not only their neck but how they seem to anthropomorphize themselves standing on two legs to get at the best leaves the tree has to offer. I did this water color sketch from our vehicle in the Samburu Reserve.Comments [1]* * *African Diary-Kikuyu Dancers
Sunday October 19, 2008The kikuyu traditionally paint themselves with colored mud. While at Thompson falls we met these three traditionally dressed Kikuyu who were singing, dancing and posing for photos with tourists.
* * *African Diary- Baboons
Monday October 13, 2008
Baboons are fun to watch. They live in large family groups called troops lead by a dominant male who constantly reasserts his dominance by harassing other baboons. During the day time they will forage among Zebra and warthogs for mutual protection. In the evening and early morning they can be found up in the trees. They have impressive Canines and can be very aggressive towards people. The Babboons would often wander through our camps looking for scraps of food. The more brazen Babboons would push on every door to see if it was unlocked. One person in our group was napping with the door unlocked but closed and was unpleasantly surprised when a large baboon opened her door and went through her things.* * *African Diary- School Visit
Wednesday October 8, 2008
We took some time off to visit a school near Sweetwaters. If anyone who is going to Africa for the first time I recommend that you bring lots of pens and paper. In order to attend school Kenyans must have a pen. So to a parent or a young child a pen is a golden ticket to education. The younger kids were bundled up in coats and jackets. I know it seems odd but Kenya in July is cold! Throughout the trip I bought extra clothes to bundle up in the early morning and evening hours.* * *
