Tag: Animals

Ayanda

I did this painting of an African wild dog (based on one of my pictures taken in Ngala, South Africa) already back in December. I needed a proper Christmas gift for my husband and so I decided to quickly put something together. “Ayanda” took me a total of 5 days … which was definitely much faster than expected. But house guests from overseas were about to arrive only days later, so I was short on time and just needed to “get it done”.

1-Ayanda 2018
Ayanda, 2018, Arcylic on Canvas, 48×36″

Why a wild dog? They are my favorite animals. They are fast, determined, successful, social, playful, gorgeous and unfortunately very rare. They are also known as painted hunting dog, painted wolf, African hunting dog or African painted dog. “The 2016 population was estimated at roughly 39 subpopulations containing 6,600 adults, only 1,400 of which were reproductive. The decline of these populations is ongoing, due to habitat fragmentation, human persecution and disease outbreaks.” Wikipedia. 

Why “Ayanda”? This is actually the beautiful name of a very nice staff member at the Mountain Lodge at Phinda, SA …

I am very happy that the painting was finished on time and I hope that it does sufficient justice to this wonderful animal.

Cheers, Sabine

 

 

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Where are the kids?

I took a photograph of the Red-billed Hornbills a few years back when we visited Botswana’s Okavango Delta. The birds are not only extremely beautiful, but also quite entertaining. When searching for a motive for a new painting I recently stumbled over that picture and thought, “why not”? The composition looked interesting to me and as I hadn’t done birds in quite some time, I gave it a go. As usual, I was short of time: I had only 4 days left and the canvas turned out to be pretty big!!!

On day 2, my daughter Isabella took a quick look at the work-in-progress and said: “You know what? These two guys look pretty much like you and daddy!” She clarified, the one to the right would be my husband. No doubt about it as its beak (-> nose) is much bigger than that of its partner … I initially laughed it off, continued to paint, but then started thinking. … Yes, she got a point … Those two hornbills really looked a bit like we must have looked like when trying to locate our three young daughters who had a tendency to disappear at the most inopportune times: on airports, in restaurants, in shopping malls, you name it.

So, that’s where the title comes from. If you look carefully, you may even spot the kids. (Hint: there are three of them hidden in the green foliage, and they are only symbolically represented) …

Hope you like it!

Cheers, Sabine

 

red billed hornbills, Botswana, Sandibe, Safari
WHERE ARE THE KIDS? 2018 Acrylic on Canvas, 47×47″
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Brothers

As 2016 is quickly coming to a close, I decided it’s now or never: Let’s paint one more piece!

Now after a 3 1/2 day marathon of painting, I am happy to report that I can add “Brothers” to my collection. The painting is based on a picture I took about two years ago in Phinda, SA. The two young lions looked extremely elegant when they slowly made their way down the steep dam. I planned to turn that shot into a painting for a long time. Happy it finally happened!

brothers-2016
Brothers, 2016, Acrylic on Canvas, 48×36″
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Animals in all colours of the rainbow

Stampede, 2016 Acrylic on Canvas, 48×36″
TOO CLOSE?!, 2008, Acrylic on Canvas, 40×30″
PUMA – SALUTE TO FRANZ MARC, 2009 Acrylic on Canvas, 40×40″
PRISTINE FOREST, 2009, Acrylic on canvas, 40×30″
LADY OF THE FOREST, 2011, Acrylic on Canvas, 40”x40”
KRATZ KRATZ, 2014, Acrylic on Canvas, 47.25×35.43″
INTRUDER, 2014 Acrylic on Canvas, 47.25×35.43″
IN THE BUSH, 2010 Acrylic on Canvas, 30×36″
GREEN FUTURE?, 2008 Acrylic on Canvas, 30×36″
FENGHANA HORSE, 2005, Acrylic on canvas, 40×40″
SUNSET FOR ETHIOPIAN WOLVES, 2009 Acrylic on Canvas, 30×40″
DANCING LIONS, 2015, Acrylic on Canvas, 36×48″
AFRICAN NEON, 2012 Acrylic on Canvas, 30×40″

Animals are my favourite motif. Franz Marc‘s work in this area was my initial inspiration although I never followed his very specific ideas on the meanings of colour (e.g. blue indicates masculinity, yellow stands for femininity and joy, and red suggests violence). That said,  I do love colour and I don’t  feel the need to stay faithful to my subject’s original palette. Why not have a green seagull for a change? Or if it suits the colour scheme of the room better, an orange/red impala with purple horns?

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