My sketches, and trip to South Lakes Safari Park

thora50
May 7, 2024
3 min read

I have enjoyed staying with two lovely people in Chorley, while I am at Uni in the week. They have a gorgeous black pointer, called Luka. Luka is amazing, if a little eccentric. He has, however been very kind in posing for a drawing session most nights. Thank you Luka and my landlady for the excellent hospitality.

I started gingerly with watercolour pencils, as I hadn't sketched for a long time. At home the last few years I have been working from photographs, mainly for commissions. My pencils and pastels came from Mum when downsizing.

Dogs

For this one I tried Luka in pastels....using varied colours

And then there's Jasper

Charcoal and pastel

I used to work with horses, and spent a few years working at Briery Close Arabian Stud in Windermere. My friend, Aley is Headgirl, and she kindly gave permission for me to come over and sketch.

Arabian horses are very loyal. I remember returning to the stud 10 years after I had left and some of the stallions who were still there when I had been working, recognised me. A great moment!

Horses

Two horses in the karal in the barn. All the horse sketches are in charcoal, which I fix with hairspray.

I used this drawing for the sgraffito work on Punch's box

I tried to use Rob's perspective drawing lesson with this one.

My friend also invited me to sketch some of her horses. This was the first time that I had used pen and ink. A wonderful experience, so freeing and immediate. It was winter, so they had their rugs on still. I look forward to drawing them in the summer.

This is how I used to sketch on my ceramics.

Cats

I have also still drawn a couple of cats, though sadly I do not own one at the moment. Carrot at the end of the tunnel.

Midnight

On Sunday I had a foray into South Lakes Safari Park. I didnt know what I would find, but actually the day turned into a big experience. I had a few hours in the afternoon there, which was plenty to get a few sketches done. People, particularly children stopped to watch me draw. One lady asked if she could film me!

The drawings below are of white Rhinoseros'

Fanily group- they have some connection with fostering the rhino calves when they have lost their mothers. I think that is both here and with conservation work in Africa.

For this drawing I used wet paper areas....interesting!

Sumatran tiger

Spider monkey relaxing

Canada Lynx

Cheetah, he was showing conditioned pacing behaviour. The lady who I was talking to said he was a rescue who had been kept in a very small cage.

I took out a years membership and read the Guide Book from cover to cover when I got home. The zoo really is trying to help conservation both in the zoo and in Africa, by supplying equipment for anti-poaching rangers. I think they are really trying their best.

I look forward to going again.

Landscape

Lake Windermere, by Millerground. I am hoping to make a colour print with this one.