New Zealand Native Wood Pigeon (acrylic)

 I visited Auckland Zoo on several occasions last year, the highlight was the Te Wao Nui exhibit which holds a collection of New Zealand endemic birds, mammals, fish and reptiles. I've never in my life ever painted a bird before so this is my very first attempt in acrylics. I have no idea where I'm going with this or even what the heck I'm doing. This is the time when I do wish I had some lessons behind me. It's all guess work, how it will turn out is anyone's guess. I'm enjoying the challenge. It's been far too long since I've done any art at all. Missed it.

Man and horse

Back in 2009 I took a few photographs of riders at the Paparoa Rodeo Club getting ready for the team roping. I had planned to do a series of painting, but never got around to actually doing anything. Finally I bit the bullet and started something. This is the initial sketch. It's a bit rough and probably full of problems. But I won't know until I try!

White Tiger in Pen & Ink

I'm still finishing off my Tamarin. As usual no time for much art as much as I'd love to spend more time. This was done in a Doctor's waiting room and oddly enough finished in a Doctor's waiting room. This is a tiger I used to have a lot to do with until 18 months ago. His name is Jahdu, a white Bengal Tiger imported from the USA back around 2002. For all their beauty white tigers aren't natural, and most are inbred so horribly they have lots of health problems and other serious defects. I enjoyed doing this drawing. Hope you like it.

Golden Lion Tamarin - Progressions 1 - 4

I visited Auckland Zoo a couple of weeks ago and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Amongst the fantastic collection of many species was the Golden Lion Tamarin. I fell in love with their stunning colours and lively antics. They are a critically endangered South American monkey species. Auckland Zoo is helping to conserve this wonderful primate as part of an international breeding programme. These are the first four stages of the current work I'm doing.

Abdullah

 I finished this yesterday. It's only a sketch rather than an indepth study. I was more interested in the way the mane and the facial muscles altered with the resting pose Abdullah had on his front paws. Lions aren't easy to draw. They have so many small details to consider. One more finished page in my visual diary done.

Abdullah - Work in progress 1

This lion was a big part of my life for nearly three years. He lives at a local Lion Park about an hours drive from me. Abdullah had been hand raised and sadly also declawed. He's a beautiful big African Lion who had a very distinct personality. He used to greet me whenever I visited and he knew my car well. This is a study drawing I have in my visual diary. That day he was resting in the sun looking rather bored with everything after having a big feed of horse meat. I love lions I'd prefer they are in the wild rather than locked in an enclosure. Sadly the reality is this lion was captive bred and will never see his parents African home. I'm just doing this one as a practice sketch for my own enjoyment.

"Shadow" Commissioned Work

This lovely American Bulldog was a challenge to do. She had so many folds in her skin but the result turned out quite good. The owner is very happy with the portrait. I haven't done very many dogs at all. I'm thinking perhaps I should draw my own dog just for practice and enjoyment. Not bad considering I haven't done a dog on over five years. I used coloured pencil on high quality watercolour paper for this work. I've learned a lot from it.