Leo

This is a pastel done on paper.

Firstly I must apologize for the delay in getting some pictures on my site.  We have been very busy packing up and are now just about on our way to Johannesburg.  I am very excited about going, as my daughter is just about due with our first grandchild.  But I am also very nervous, a whole new beginning for us!!

This is just a small watercolour that I have done on acid free board - Guinea fowl are always such fun to do.

Bedazzled

I just love painting zebra. This is another watercolor, and is 540mm x 300mm - not too big. It has also been sold.

This is a smallish oil painting of a kudu - I have included a picture of it in its frame. When I went down to Cape Town on my art course, Dale Elliot was kind enough to show me how to do this kind of frame for my paintings. Oil paintings have always worried me, as I do not like them framed, always thought that they lacked something. I love the way this makes them jump out of the frame, and now they look more like a watercolor that has mountboard - just more finished. What do you think?

Afternoon Stroll at Chobe

Oil on Canvas 760mm x 610mm We were driving back to our campsite in Chobe, when we decided to take one more last loop down to the river to see if there was anything, and chanced upon these two lions returning from having a drink. I just loved the picture, especially with the late afternoon glow from the setting sun.

Running Wild Dog

Oil on Canvas - 610mm x 455mm We saw this pack of wild dog in Madikwe, and they were all lazing around in the early morning light, when all of a sudden this dog jumped up and started running down the path. It was not long and all of the pack were up on their feet and on the move.

Leopard with Tree

Oil on Canvas - 760mm x 610mm We came across this leopard in Savute and she was just sitting watching us, she did not seem at all worried. I love seeing leopard, and it is always a thrill when you get to see them, as they are so elusive, and disappear into the bush so easily.

Zebra Migration

I originally did this painting with a red foreground, and when I had finished the painting it sat in the studio where I could see it. I was not happy with the picture, something kept annoying me about it. Anyway, the one day I walked in and I thought it is the strong colors in the foreground, they were competing with the picture. So I reworked the whole background, a very labour intensive job :) - but I am happier with the whole outcome. This painting has been sold.

Leopard in Tree

This is a larger pastel painting.

Another small pastel painting of the Chobe area featuring stormy skies with an elephant

Another small painting in oil of a lechwe on the banks of the Khwaai river

ELEPHANT SWIMMING

The elephants love to cross the Chobe river, and if you are lucky enough you can get close to them on the boats to get these pictures. I have done this one in watercolor, and it is a smallish painting. I have found that in todays economic struggles, not everyone wants big paintings that are so expensive, and would rather buy something smaller.

Spotlight

When we were in Kwando we happened on this young leopard on our way back to the camp in the evening. I was fascinated at how he just seemed to pop into the spotlight and as soon as we took the light off him he just vanished into the darkness. I knew then that I had to try and paint this image of him in the light.

Dust migration

This is one of the 3 paintings that I am entering into the art competition in Zambia which is going to be opened by David Shepherd. I am really looking forward to meeting the legend.

This is a large oil painting of the zebra migration at Khumaga.

Chimp magic

Another Chimpanzee painting for Zambia, this was in case the first one did not work out. This started as acrylic pours, and then I decided to leave it like that - and just do the detail work in the focal areas.

Evolution

This picture is painted onto a mirror, and yes, that is me that you see sticking out ... was very difficult to paint on the mirror and to photograph the painting. I wanted to do something different for the art competition up in Zambia, and liked the idea that you could see yourself next to the chimp and then when you come close your image becomes that of the chimp - hence the title evolution. I also wanted people to be aware of how close they are to us, especially when they are in the sights of a gun. I am not sure if the concept worked, what do you think?

The Boss

A lone Buffalo bull with tick birds.

River Race

We were on the boat in Chobe when we disturbed these hippo who were just lazing in the sun on the riverbank. As soon as we approached they all got up and dashed back for the safety of the water. Hippo are cerainly one of the most dangerous animals in Africa and account for more attacks on man than any other animal. Contrary to their size they can move really fast on land.

Kalahari Brothers

It is always such a thrill when you find lions, let alone the more elusive males. We were driving along the road early in the morning in Mabuasahube, a small park that forms part of the Trans Kalahari Frontier national park, and we came around a corner and there they were. When you find males like this it is usually a coalition of brothers that work together.

It was late evening, and the sun was just setting and these incredible animals came down to drink at the waterhole at Khama Rhino Sanctuary.
Most of the rhino in Botswana have been moved to Khama Rhino sanctuary, and here they are protected 24/7 by the army against poaching. Isn't it a sad state of affairs that we cannot leave these animals in their natural habitat, but have to guard them to ensure that they escape from cruel poaching for their horns which are no more than compressed hair - but for some strange reason their phallic shape makes them highly sought after by ignorant people as an aphrodisiac.