It's been a long time since I have posted anything on the blog so I thought it time I take five minutes from the madness of work and write a small entry. I say madness at work due to the fact that exhibition season is approaching fast, which always means a massive work load. It is always tricky trying to think up new ideas for pictures that are genuinely inspiring. It would be easy for me to knock out tens of pictures with a heavy commercial value but it would very leave me filling very unfulfilled. It never ceases to amaze me that just when I think I have drawn everything, some new idea for a an animal never brought to my attention before takes priority place on my drawing board.
I don't like giving to much away before exhibitions but it is always nice to give people an idea of what to expect. All I can say is that this year is Servals will feature, a feline I have not payed enough attention to in the past.
Alongside my exhibition work I also have my constant stream of commission work to contend with. One commission in particular that has been on the starting blocks for some time now, has finally started to come to fruition. The piece in question is that of an alligator. Many of you will know of my love for all things from the kingdom of herpetology and drawing them is nothing short of heaven for me. A couple of weeks ago I was fortunate to go on a reference searching trip  to the largest private collection of crocodilians in the UK. It was in all honesty one of the best days out I have had in a long while and it reminded me why I do this job. When I am working on this type of project it no longer feels like work. The chance to get up close and personal with a huge selection of crocodilian friends was magical, especially without the confines and restrictions normally created by zoos and aquariums. I also hit it off very well with the owner and I am very keen to work with him again in the future raising money for conservation projects close to our hearts.
One species in particular that grabbed my attention was the chinese alligator a smaller and rarer version of it's only other direct cousin the American alligator. This species is highly endangered and is bordering on becoming extinct in the wild of theYanze river basin China. Despite its precarious wild situation it was nice to see captive bred hatchlings for new breeding work helping to keep the worldwide population from diminishing. This animal is a perfect topic for drawing as like so many of the other animals I have focused on in the past it highlights the need for people to sit up and take note of fast disappearing creatures across the globe.
Watch this blog for news of when I get closer to completion of this really exciting new project.



Copyright David Dancey-Wood 2010