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« Previous Entries Next Entries »Prairie Dogs, Drumheller, AB
Wednesday, January 6th, 2021
Prairie Dogs, the Badlands Hoodoos near Drumheller, Alberta Canada. 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper. Framed size 27H x 33W inches.
The Canadian Badlands in Alberta and Saskatchewan are recognized for having unusual mudstone and sandstone landscape formations, and also for having the largest deposits of dinosaur bones in the world. The geography in Horseshoe Canyon, Alberta is ancient and incredible, and the prairie dogs – Albertans call them “gophers” – are an influential part of prairie ecology, having extensive impact on vegetation and animal life. They live in colonies of up to several thousand, burrowing in networks of tunnels where other ground-dwelling creatures move in, and rain water is reserved and redirected.
They are cute to be sure, but they are sometimes a nuisance to farmers whose horses and cattle can trip in the holes. Pest control programs during the 1900’s meant their numbers have declined, which had an impact on the grasslands they helped sustain. As their own highways became populated with humans and cars, particularly during Springtime they are a road hazard.
In Torrington, Alberta, one lady has found a creative way to utilize the unfortunate casualties. You must visit The World-Famous Gopher Hole Museum located in the middle of nowhere, in a small hamlet where there is not even a gas station, along a seemingly endless dusty gravel road about an hour Northwest of Drumheller. Gophers are stuffed, sporting handmade costumes and placed in small cubicles displaying historic scenes. Completely bizarre, but actually very well done and absolutely worth the conversation-provoking side-trip if you are planning to visit Drumheller and the Tyrell Dinosaur Museum.
Feeding Cockatoos, Apollo Bay, Australia
Sunday, January 3rd, 2021
Feeding Cockatoos, Apollo Bay, along the Great Ocean Road, Australia – 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on 90 lb watercolor paper.
Zebras at Fossil Rim
Thursday, November 19th, 2020
Zebras at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in Glen Rose, Texas – 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper
Fossil Rim is a wonderful drive-through park, dedicated to conservation, research, training and education. You may be greeted by guanacos, zebras and ostrich, and can take your own time, but there are also guided tours.
Golden Lion Tamarin
Sunday, November 8th, 2020
Golden Lion Tamarin at the Dallas World Aquarium, Texas – 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on 90 lb watercolor paper.
These sweet little primates are only about 10 inches and 1.5 lb full-grown. They are considered an endangered species, with an estimated 3,200 confined to areas of tropical rainforest in southeastern Brazil.
Swallows’ Nest
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2020
Swallows’ Nest at Dosewallips State Park rest area, Hwy 101 WA – 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper. Framed size 27H x 33W inches, white wood frame, crackle finish.
Sleepy Sun Bear
Friday, October 30th, 2020
Sleepy Sun Bear, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper.
I took some great photos of this sun bear soaking up the sun on a warm winter day at the Fort Worth Zoo in Texas – what a character. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the Asian Sun Bear as vulnerable because the population has declined by 35% in the past 30 years.
Australian White Ibis
Wednesday, October 28th, 2020
Australian White Ibis, Brisbane city Botanic Gardens, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper
Duck Silhouettes
Friday, October 9th, 2020
Duck Silhouettes, Rood Bridge Park, Hillsboro OR – 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on 90 lb watercolor paper
Red Squirrel
Thursday, October 1st, 2020
Red Squirrel in Ottawa, Ontario – 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on 90 lb watercolor paper
Mountain Goats
Tuesday, September 29th, 2020
Mountain Goats near Sandpoint, Idaho – early summer, so mama is molting. 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on 90 lb watercolor paper
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