Spots on my drawing board

Larry, my newest colored pencil drawing is inspired by my time in Samburu, Kenya. 

Our guide spotted (!) this handsome leopard in an acacia tree brimming with richly colored birds.

Leopards tend to while away the hours up in trees. Their stunning spotted coat camouflages them, making them blend in with the leaves of the tree. 

We sat tight with this leopard for at least an hour until he dropped out of his perch. We were then scrambling, along with a dozen other tourist vehicles for the best place to watch him.

Leopards are ambush predators, so they crouch low to sneak up to their prey and pounce before it has a chance to react.

Leopards are solitary creatures that only spend time with others when they are mating or raising young.

Pretty soon he ambled out of view into a dense part of the woods, we took off then to find a smattering of elephants down the road!

Observation Post, Kathryn Hansen  7x10  (c)2016  $800.00

Highlights of 2015

 ...to make an end is to make a beginning...

~T.S. Eliot~

19 Drawings:

10 Commissioned portraits (all dogs!)

8 Drawings

1 Donated drawing to California Wildlife Center

3 large commissioned paintings -that I can't show you! (sorry!)

10 Exhibitions (7 in galleries, 3 on-line)

1 monetary Merit Award for Where's Waldo in the PSA 90th Annual Juried Exhibition at White Fine Art Gallery in Montrose, CA

 

We fostered 5 kittens

Adopted 1 naughty, but very goofy puppy, Indie (Indiana Jones Lloyd Louis Hansen)

1 trip only (but it was fantastic!) to Santa Fe, New Mexico with my dear friends Julie and Bonni

I lost two very dear, sweet animals this year. 

I found Sammy on the streets by my work when he was just 6 months old. He was already blind in one eye and partially in the other, but it never stopped him from living a full life. He could be cantankerous at times, okay a lot of times but he loved to cuddle with me and could be just as sweet! 

Josie was the love of my life. We got her for half price ($25) at a run down pet shop while on vacation in Yosemite. My two girls begged me for her and it was one of the best decisions of my life to say yes! Josie and I hiked hundreds of miles every weekend and holiday. She was a true companion and followed me around as if she were my shadow. She made me laugh with her happy dance and antics! I love her more than I can say and miss her dearly, every single day since she passed on August 20th at 11.5 years old.

Cheers to the New Year! May it be a VERY memorable and creative one for you!! 

Happy 2016!!!!