Friday, January 7, 2011

Sketches on Holiday

A very Happy, Creative and Inspiration year to you. May this, the first year of the decade reap huge rewards and positive attitudes for you all. After settling back at home after a 3 week break, loads of washing done and unpacking out the way, I decided to look back through my sketchbook I took with me and thought I'd share some of the very rough sketches I painted whilst down at the seaside in St Francis Bay on the East Cape coast of South Africa.







Study of Penguins after I watched Penguins being re-introduced back in to the ocean


I acted on a whim just before I left for my holiday and got wrapped up in the huge global Anti-Rhino poaching issue. I flew in 'horns and all' and suggested a campaign called Artist Campaign to HELP Save the Rhino on Facebook. This campaign is for artists of all genre world wide to stand united and paint, draw, sculpt, write, photograph rhino's. Some or all proceeds of sales can be donated to a worthy organisation who support  rhino conservation.  So far the interest is there, I just need to fine tune the logistics, get support and spread the word. This is where you can help too if you feel the need. The more the merrier and the greater the reward for the salvation of the rhino.

I am absolutely appalled by the behavior of some people who have senselessly maimed and slaughtered innocent rhino's for their horns and left some babies orphaned or dying from starvation. The horns are been sold to the East for medicinal and healing purposes and fetch incredibly high prices. Studies show that the properties in the horn are the same as your fingernails....Keratin, Calcium and Melanin. The horn has been prized for centuries and will take authorities a hundred years to eradicate a myth.

The shocking statistic is that last year alone, over 300 rhino's were killed...... that's almost 1 a day!!!  I want to cry when I read these stats! I so want to help in some way to stop the barbaric slaughter but cannot do it alone, this is where you come in. If you are keen to join me in the fight to help this shy, strange almost pre-historic animal from extinction, please pop over to my link above and show your support. I have more information on the Campaign there.

I did a few studies of rhino's on holiday just playing with ideas for a larger painting I'll do for the Campaign. Hope you'll join me!




Till next time.......

7 comments:

Sandra Busby said...

I was only thinking about you this morning - wondering where you had got to in bloggy-land! Your sketches are so lovely!
I feel the same way about sharks and turtles as you do Rhinos. I am on my way to your link right now!

Sandra Busby said...

I was only thinking about you earlier on today - wondering where you had got to in bloggy-land!
Your sketches are beautiful!
I feel as strongly about this sort of thing as you do - sharks and sea turtles being of particular concern to me personally. I am on my way to your link right now!

Debbie said...

Hi Sandra, I'm here!!!!! I have been checking in only briefly, but decided that the 7th of the month was a bit long to wait for a post.... so here it tis. Thanks for your comment. I am also a fan of sea creatures including the Dugongs, dolphins and turtles! But the Rhino's are very close to my heart as they are very severly theatened at present, so shy and are not aggressive at all except when theatened, but thats with all animals I spose!!! Glad to hear you will pop by and have a look! Thank you! FYI..... I have Never painted rino in my life.. so I suspect you all can try too! Happy New Year to you Sandra!

Carol Blackburn said...

Love all your sketches, Debbie...in fact, I always find something interesting on your blog.

Cathy Gatland said...

Lovely seaside sketches Debbie, and the penguins are gorgeous. My year is already filling up but I hope to do a rhino painting. Are you thinking at all of putting on an exhibition a la Everyone Counts (http://www.everyonecounts.co.za/ and on Facebook)? Or does each person just do their own sales?

Debbie said...

Thank you Carol.. what a lovely thing to say! Glad you like popping in to my blog! I appreciate all the feedback!

Hi Cathy, from a wonderful sketcher, I appreciate your words..... The 'eveyONEcounts' exhibition looks like it was hugely successful for raising funds.... not sure if I have the know how or organising skills for such an event! We'll see! Happy that you might try your hand at these rather uninteresting looking creatures who only ask for peace like any other! Will keep you updated!

Maree Clarkson said...

Just love these holiday sketches Debbie, great work! Looks like you had a wonderful time!