#493 In the field: Africa . . . Elephant, con't . . .

Please start this series of posts with #477

The African elephant is the largest living land mammal in existence and is endangered due to ivory poaching.
While in Africa recently, I experienced herds of the giants, roaming the savannah and scrub
wooded habitat in the Serengeti and Tarangire.  Significant  elephant populations
are confined to protected areas such as these parks and preserves.

Below, is an image of the first elephant - a giant bull - I ever saw in the wild.
This picture was taken the day after our arrival in Tanzania in the Ngorongoro Crater.
It was a life-changing event and has set the course for the rest of my life.

Below,  is a photo of a herd of African elephants in the Serengeti:
This was the first herd of the magnificent creatures I experienced  in their natural habitat . . .
I was thrilled at being able to safely get so close to the animals in the Land Rover.
Our guide explained that they, like most of the animals, had grown to understand the
vehicles in the parks and preserves were safe and were not threatened by our presence.
We relied on our knowledgable guide, however, to keep us informed by interpreting their body language.




Below, are recent photos taken at Tarangire in Tanzania.

Below, is a drawing from my Tanzania sketchbook.

Elephants are intelligent and socially complex.  The females live within a structured
group and work together to protect and raise each others' young.

The family unit is made up of several related females - sisters or daughters - and their offspring.
The oldest grandmother typically heads the group and is the matriarch . . .  
the herd relies on her experience as they move about together.  
If there is danger, the matriarch usually faces it while the 
others cluster around the young and shield them from harm.

The mature bulls live alone and wander between temporary bachelor herds . . .
they are only allowed into the female herd when it's time to breed.

Below, is an image of a big tusker in Tarangire.

For anatomy reference, go to posts #563, #616, and #655,     Blog, text, photos, drawings, and sculpture . . . © Sandy Scott and Trish Smith

#488 In the field: Africa . . . Hippopotamus

Please start this series of posts with #477

The focus of this post is the Hippopotamus.  Before my recent trip to Tanzania, this animal was not on the short-list of species to be included in my African portfolio.  I completely changed my mind after experiencing the hippo in the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and in Tarangire.

Below, are photos taken in Tanzania.

Hippos can always be found around water.

The hippo - its name is taken from ancient Greek for "river horse" -  is more closely related to whales and porpoises despite their physical resemblance to pigs.  Whales and hippos split in the evolutionary process around
60 million years ago.  A group of hippos is called a pod.

Hippos are well adapted to their mostly aquatic lifestyle and typically spend most of the day in or around water.
The large quadruped is aggressive and dangerous on land.  They stay cool in water during the day - like pigs, they are nearly hairless - and emerge at dusk to forage on grasses.

Hippo shapes are an obvious delight for the sculptor:  Barrel-shaped with short, stubby legs; enormous, cavernous mouth with long, large teeth; tiny ears, a unique shaped head and huge snout . . . present a plethora of outstanding shapes and forms for the sculptor to assemble and design with.  

Below, is a hippo sculpture - in progress - started a few days ago.  The two animals modeled are depicted in a pool and are the "supporting cast" for a third hippo which will be created with it's mouth open while yawning.  The dramatic creature will be included as a species in my African portfolio.

Below, are drawings of a yawning hippo . . . the precursor to the modeling and final design.
I learned from our guide in Africa that the Swahili name for Hippopotamus is kiboko. . .
The Maasai name is olmakau.

for anatomy reference, go to posts #563, #616, and #655.
Blog, text, photos, drawings, and sculpture . . . © Sandy Scott

#487 In the field: Africa . . . Flamingo

Please start this series of posts with #477

The Flamingo is the focus of this blog and is another species I experienced on my recent trip to Tanzania.

I saw the striking birds from a distance in the Ngorongoro Crater . . . they were at ease on the mud flats
 of a shallow, salty lake.  Although my photos below, are of poor quality and have heat shimmer,
I was excited to spot them in their natural habitat.  Flamingos typically fly at sunrise and sunset
and I did not get a chance to see them fly . . . maybe next year!

Below, flamingos and wildebeest.

Below, flamingos and hartebeest.

Below, flamingos and hyena.

Below, lots of action in Ngorongoro Crater.

I've seen flamingos many times in the United States in zoos such as the San Diego Zoo and in more natural environments in Florida.  Many scientists believe that the American Flamingo of the New World tropics is

so like the Greater Flamingo of the Old World - which includes Africa - that they are probably the same species.

Below, are drawings from my sketchbook.
The beautiful bird will be included in my African portfolio which is in progress.
I plan to present the creature as a life-sized sculpture . . .  the armature has
already been built and the design has been created, mentally and on paper.

Below, is an original watercolor-tinted etching created many years
ago from reference gathered at the Hialeah Race Track in Florida.

for anatomy reference, go to posts #563, #616, and #655.

Blog, text, photos, drawings, and sculpture . . . © Sandy Scott and Trish Smith

   

#486 In the field: Africa . . . Ostrich

Please start this series of posts with #477

This post focuses on another species I experienced on my recent trip to Tanzania. . . the OSTRICH.

The ostrich is another subject that will be included in my portfolio of sculpture - in progress - depicting African animals.  Below are photos taken in the Serengeti, Ngorogoro, and Tarangire. several weeks ago.
The larger male has distinctive black feathers;  the females' are grayish brown.

Below, the male and female look after their brood.

Below, The big bird often follows animals such as zebras and other
hooved animals that kick up insects and other edibles.

The ostrich is the largest bird as well as the largest two-legged creature on earth . . .
it can be over 9 feet in height.
Below is a drawing from my sketchbook.

  Before approaching the sculpture stand, each species must be researched to perceive behavior, gesture,  pose, individual shapes and form, and proportion.  Below is a drawing of a running ostrich. . . 

this is a pose that is frequently seen in the field and is typical body movement and locomotion.

The ostrich is a unique bird with a bizarre appearance and communicates many distinctive shapes
for the sculptor's use.  The comical-looking creature has a huge rounded body; a long, skinny neck;
an unusually small head with big eyes, long eye-lashes, and a broad, flat beak;
spindly legs with enormous calf muscles; and only two toes.  The combination of
shapes and form presents a bonanza for the sculptor while creating and designing.
Below, is a drawing of the bird's unique head.

It is shapes and the arrangement of shapes and form that make sculpture and sculpting any species is the process of assembling shapes and forms that are unique to the subject.  The sculptor must develop sound technique and be under the influence of their subject. . . I always ask myself: "What was my initial impression of this animal when I first saw and experienced it?"  In this manner, I attempt to leave my imprint upon my creation and retain clarity and purpose.

        

For anatomy reference, go to posts #563, #616, and #655

Blog, text, photos, drawings, and sculpture . . . © Sandy Scott and Trish Smith

#484 In the field: Africa . . . Black Rhino

Please start this series of posts with #477

There were four different subspecies of black rhino at the beginning of the 20th century
and an estimated 1,000,000 animals roamed the savannas of Africa.  There are now only
three subspecies in existence as the Western Black Rhino was recently declared extinct.

Below, is a drawing of a Black Rhino from my sketchbook.

Authorities differ on how many black rhino remain on this planet but it's estimated between
2300 and 5000 animals of the remaining three subspecies exist and they are being killed daily.

Why is one subspecies extinct and the remaining three subspecies vulnerable to extinction?

TCM or Traditional Chinese Medicine was promoted in Asia between 1950 and 1960 as a way to
unify the country against Western civilization and the use of Western medicine.  Between 1960 and 1975,
98% of the black rhino were killed by poachers to supply powdered rhino horn to Asia from which was said
to cure everything from hangovers, to fever, to cancer.   It is now considered a status symbol
as science has verified there are no medicinal qualities in powdered rhino horn.

On our recent trip to Tanzania, Trish and I were in the Ngorongoro Crater on two different occasions and both times we spotted a black rhino in the distance.  Our guides concluded that even though we saw a black rhino over two weeks apart, it was probably the same animal.  The photos below were shot with a 300 mm lens and are of poor quality due to distance and heat shimmer.  The fact remains that we experienced one of the few remaining black rhinos in existence.

I took drawings of various animal skeletons with me to Africa.  They are a great resource when spotting
an animal at a distance and only the shape and silhouette is recognizable.

Upon my return to the studio, I was anxious to model a clay sketch of the black rhino . . .
below, is a quick block-in that I'll return to when I gather more reference material.
I was cognizant of the fact and captivated by the knowledge that during my lifetime,
the magnificent animal could be extinct. . . and I'm not that young.

Our group of artist ambassadors are in the process of raising money and awareness against
poaching for not only the black rhino, but for the elephant through our artworks.
Please follow our posts, blogs, and links and help us.  Link to http://africanwildlifetrust.org


Blog, text, photos, drawings, and sculpture . . . © Sandy Scott