Artist of the Day

For one day I am Artist of the Day on the Artist for Conservation web site. If you are not familiar with this group, take a look around their web site at www.natureartists.com
This is a group of artists from around the world dedicated to supporting nature through their art.

More featured lechwe

The success of the painting hinges on this lead lechwe.

Artistic License

OK. I admit it. I did not see a ram in this particular group. But, to make the composition work, I needed to turn a female into a male.

The change is not as simple as adding a pair of horns. Males have a thicker neck, more robust body, deeper chest. In Lechwe, the head and body can be darker. Since I was in this section of Botswana before I had a digital camera, it was time to thumb through dozens of 4" X 6" prints looking for my lechwe ram reference.  Fortunately, all my prints are catalogued and cross-referenced (and there are tens of thousands that I have taken.)

Though most of the details were worked out when I originally drew him, I still wanted all these prints in front of me as I painted.

Red lechwe

Red lechwe are perfectly suited to the Okanvango Delta of Botswana. Preferring aquatic and semi-aquatic grasses, the lechwe's hooves are long and splayed enabling them to move easily in the environment. With powerful hind-quarters, these antelope can make great leaps to escape danger.

I started with the lechwe in back and then moved to the more shadowed one.

The lion

The idea of the lion is simple. I needed a reason for all the leaping!

More Background

I've done some simplifying of the scene. Too many sticks would distract from the action.

1999

Artists often have ideas for months even years before they have the time, resources, or inspiration to paint them.
Yes. 1999. I have had the ideas for this painting rolling around in my head since 1999.
I was in the Okavango Delta in Botswana in a mokoro, a dug out wooden canoe. My guide was standing in the back pushing me along with a pole. Seated, my grass mat was getting progressively wetter and I wondered how long we would stay afloat.
As we rounded a high grass bank, we came across red lechwe. Females and several little ones. A couple of them were surprised by our presence.
Over the years, I have glanced at my reference and thought one day I should paint something with red lechwe. I never got the feeling that I was ready to paint them....until now. I want a good story and when I came up with the lion idea, I knew it was time.

This is a large painting at 35" X 48".