Other Research

Great North Museum: Hancock

Whilst visiting The Great North Hancock Museum I came across this beautiful work by artist; Jane Lee McCracken. Jane creates large wildlife drawings using biro pens to tell a story. If you look closely at her work you can see images within the animals. The piece on the right shows a snow leopard and a Himalayan vulture, both of which are threatened species. You can see historic events depicted within the drawings.

Jane Lee McCracken recently held a workshop called 'where did all the animals go?' - a global study of endangered and iconic animals. Jane exhibits printed vinyls of original biro drawings by over 600 children from the north east.

Here are some photos I took of the living planet gallery.

Ipad Sketches I made of the stuffed animals on display in the living planet gallery. I really enjoyed creating this quick still life sketches.

Dynasties: Painted Wolf

I recently watched this documentary on the endangered species 'the painted wolf'. I fell in love with these painted wolves, or otherwise known as 'African wild dogs'. The documentary is about Tate and her pack, and her rival pack led by her daughter blacktip. The Documentary, which was released in 2018 tells us there are only 6,600 painted wolves left in the world, however there is now only 1,409 of these wild dogs left. I would like to create a painting of a painted wolf.

Here are some sketches I created of the painted wolf after watching this episode.

Images I created in photoshop

Traditional Chinese medicine

China is the largest market for illegal wildlife products. Tiger parts have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. Tiger bones treat ulcers, typhoid, malaria, dysentery, burns and even rheumatism. Other parts, like its whiskers, are worn as talismans or protective charms or used to sooth toothaches. Its penis is sold as a sexual tonic, and its skin is valued as a trophy or worn in clothing as a symbol of wealth.

Totem Pole

I am really interested in the history behind totem poles and what they symbolise. I got an idea to create a painting in the shape and form of a totem pole with the animals I have been researching. Totem poles were constructed by the native Americans of the north west coast of the united states of America and Canada. The word totem refers to a guardian or ancestral being, usually supernatural. The significance of the real or mythological animal carved on a totem pole is its identification with the lineage of the head of the household. The animal is displayed as a type of family crest, much as an Englishman might have a lion on his crest, or a rancher a bull on his brand. More widely known, but in fact far less common, are the elaborately carved tall totem poles that relate an entire family legend in the form of a pictograph.