Wildlife Sketches

Big Cat Slide Show

Wildlife Sketches — 2010-01-14T14:55:00Z

Big Cats by David Dancey-Wood
A new slide show of David's work which is featured on YouTube.

As I mentioned in my last entry, I am putting together a series of slide shows of David's work, and interviews with David, to feature on our new website and on this blog. Some of you will have already seen two slide shows available on YouTube, one of which has been posted there since last year. Several people have commented about them and we thought it would be an interesting feature to include in the new site. We have now posted the 1st slide show in the new series which will feature David's work in short 3-5 minute episodes, selected according to the different animal categories.

Of course, we are all already fans of these images, and most probably own many of them, but I hope you enjoy the episode's as they are posted over the next few weeks.

We would like to get as many people as possible to view these on YouTube, and in order to attract more viewings it would be very helpful if you rate each slide show when you see them. That will increase the interest value of the videos online and hopefully increase viewings. Thank you in advance for helping with this.

Finally, I have found that the videos are best seen using Firefox for some reason, but whichever browser you have I'm pretty confident you will enjoy them. I look forward to reading your comments.

And, please download them to your own sites and blogs as you wish. I think you can even download them to a mobile, so have fun.

Vince De Luca.

This Slide Show was kindly created for Wildlife Sketches by Stephen Edwards of S-EI Creatives Bournemouth 2010

Happy New Year from David

David Dancey-Wood — 2010-01-11T10:04:00Z

Let me take a moment of your time to wish all our readers and viewers a Happy New Year. I hope you have all got over the indulgence of Christmas and it was good for you all. I am more than relieved to put it behind me. Traditionally I normally hang up my pencils over the festive period as it comes as a well relieved natural break from the hard slog of autumn and the busy festive trading period.
It is always nice to come back fresh in the new year revitalized and ready to get going on new work. The reality is that getting together the motivation to kick start yourself back to work on a dark, gray, cold winters morning at the start of the year is a far from easy task. I don't know what that magic ingredient is, that ignites an artists drive but I know that I could certainly do with whatever it is come January each year.
After a terrifically busy season before Christmas I have faced a repeat question time and time again regarding my plans for 2010. The answer to be honest is that much of it is still undecided, I can definitely reassure many of you that there will be a couple of shows with new work spread throughout it (I guarantee the blog will be a good port of call for info on this). Other plans that might or might not happen include expeditions and a possible new edition to my book catalogs. For full details of all news and forthcoming releases keep checking in and we will try and regularly keep things posted.
Unfortunately due to a few technical problems the release of the new Sally print for Monkey World was delayed before Christmas and didn't get to the websites in time for many x mas shoppers. It has now been released and is available from the Monkey world shop and website at the same price and size as the previous release of Charlie. The print comes as a regular 595 limited edition litho and a luxury very large size giclee 199 edition. If due to some unknown reason it is still not on their website www.monkeyworld.org please feel free to give n the shop a ring who will happily deal with your order.

Our New Wildlife Sketches Website Coming Soon!

Wildlife Sketches — 2010-01-10T10:56:00Z

Happy New Year

We'd like to thank everyone who has visited this blog and our main site (whether frequent visitor or newbie) and wish you all a Happy New Year 2010. A big thank you also, to anyone that left us a comment. David told me he enjoys reading your comments. As do other visitors and myself. So, please keep the comments coming. We will publish all the ones that are appropriate and relevant.

Our blog has been a great success and I've enjoyed running it. Last year we had lots of news from David. Which, I guess is why most of you visit us. And I want to thank David for his time writing about his work and keeping us all informed about events, exhibitions and new releases. We've also had some great articles from several other visitors. These have been very interesting and well written (yours truly not included - although, I've given it a go). Thank you if you have contributed an article. We hope to hear more from our readers this year.

I am very please to say we have also raised a little bit of money, for The Rainforest Concern, from your purchases of David's Prints through our website www.wildlife-sketches.com, and through our Ebay sales. We've donated 10% from each purchase this year, and will continue to do this in the future. The Rainforest Concern do fantastic work purchasing and protecting rainforests around the world. For more information about their work please visit: http://www.rainforestconcern.org/

Our website has had many visitors in the last year, from the UK and lots of other countries. This is one of the reasons we have decided to redesign the main site. The new site will eventually include complete German, Spanish, French and Italian pages, which will be written and updated by native speakers. Though, they will not necessarily be translations. We hope you enjoy them if you visit us.

Last year, I announced that Wildlife Sketches would hold a Biannual Free Draw for all our customers of the past year, and for all the visitors who joined our Forum or signed up for our Newsletter (Ok, it's not quite Bi Annual Yet! But it's been a quiet year, and we need more members for our forum and newsletters please!). The first Free Draw was a Great success. You can read about it here:

http://blog.wildlife-sketches.com/2009/02/25/wildlife-sketches-presents-1st-biannial-free-draw-winner-with-her-prize.aspx

I would like to announce that the next Free Draw will take place in early February 2010. So, there is plenty of time to either sign up to our newsletter, or join our Forum (access the Forum or Newsletter at the top of page in the sidebar) or, if you like, purchase any of David's beautiful prints through our website, and you'll automatically be entered in the draw. Just click the banner at the end of any article on this blog. David (or ,perhaps, his son, Leonardo) will draw a winner, and, if you win and live locally, I am sure we can get David to present the lucky winner with his print. So what are you waiting for? I'd like one of the new releases myself, what about you? The winner will receive his or her choice or one of David's current prints.

Our new website is being designed to make your visits easier, more fun, and intuitive. We are updating the image viewing system to make it, hopefully, quicker and better quality. Information about each image will be informative and artistically descriptive. And the sales procedure will be familiar, straight forward and secure. Prices will also be available in local currencies for international customers.

Many of our visitors have viewed the YouTube slide show which was created for us last year by some imaginative Bournemouth Arts Students. If you missed it first time, here it is again:

Well, I hope you liked it?

I have several more planned, including some interviews, which I'm sure will appeal to everyone.
These are some of the features we hope to include in the new website. If you have any suggestions for items to add to the new website, I would be very happy to receive them and I will consider any that are appropriate and relevant.

Our newly designed website is due to go live before the end of January, and I am convinced it will be great. Please keep in touch, and visit us again in the near future. We're sure it will be fun.

Have a Great 2010.

Vince De Luca.

Young Moose Having Fun in a Puddle

Wildlife Sketches — 2009-11-16T12:52:00Z

This a great little video I found on the La Repubblica website. There seems to be no sound but it doesn't need any really (although, it would be great if someone could add a little music to this clip).

L'alce gioca nella pozzanghera

(14 novembre 2009) http://tv.repubblica.it

This is a short video of a young moose playing in a puddle in the forest. Nothing else needs to be said.

pubblicaradio&dState=normal&scaleMethod=fit&rel=false&fsType=fl&" name="flashvars">
Now some of you may be wondering if this is actually a moose. So I'd better explain. The title in Italian is Alce, which translates as Moose. But I am sure some might wonder, so I have included a link to a webpage which might help out anyone a little doubtful.

http://naturetravels.wordpress.com/2007/10/29/what%E2%80%99s-the-difference-between-a-moose-and-an-elk/

I hope you enjoyed this little video. I think it's great!

Vince De Luca.

Exhibitions

David Dancey-Wood — 2009-11-03T16:43:00Z

Hi there all,

This is just a quick shout out and thank you to everyone that attended my show preview on Friday it was most appreciated. As usual we got a good turnout and it was lovely to see lots of old faces and many new ones as well. What surprised me more than anything is the distance that some of you traveled, it turns out that most people who came traveled for at least a couple of hours just to get there. This always humbles me to think that people enjoy seeing my work so much they will bother to get in their car and travel across the country, all I can say to this is thank you!

The new collection of pictures were recieved very well, with a few as usual being the forerunners for everyones praise and attention. I think without a doubt the picture of the night and the one that recieved the most comments was definitely my pangolin. I was very pleased people liked it as it was a picture I had wanted to draw for some time and it took a lot out of me getting it done.

For those of you who were unfortunately unable to visit on Friday ,you will be pleased to know that the show will remain intact and is open to all who wish to visit for the next 3 weeks. So if you feel the urge I can totally recommend a visit and I hope you will enjoy it. Details are in my previous entry.

I must also take the time to remind folks that I still have another one day show to come in Eastliegh near Southampton. I will be there on the day to sign stuff and have a chat. For those of you interested it is Sunday the 22nd of November 'The Picture Framing Gallery' Eastleigh.(Details again are in my previous entry).

All the best and I look forward to seeing some more of you there.

Sell The Vatican, Feed The World.

Wildlife Sketches — 2009-11-02T19:08:00Z

Ok, well this is not actually about wildlife, but please don't be upset. I found this YouTube video and I think it's very funny, but also quite interesting.

I hope you enjoy it, and please don't get upset. It is meant to be funny afterall.

Just so everyone is clear, this is here only because I found it funny, and I'd like everyone to have a laugh too.

Vince De Luca..

P.S. Would'nt It be great if we could actually wipe out famine? It'd be great for the wildlife too.

Exhibition Time

David Dancey-Wood — 2009-10-07T12:29:00Z

It's that time of year again and I always know when exhibition season has arrived as I don't seem to get a moment spare. I have been burning the midnight oil and have been drawing quite a few new pics for my forthcoming shows. After a strange year when the media have been constantly telling us the economy is in dire straits, which is obviously undeniable , business for me as an artist has been fairly good with only the usual slump that occurs every summer.

I am exhibiting with two new galleries this autumn and I am very excited about both. The first show will be with new gallery Bianco Giglio Gallery recently opened by Infinartums Amanda Shivrell in Crowthorne Berks. Mandy has wanted a gallery for sometime so this is almost her dream come true and if ever there was a right person to run a gallery it is her. When she invited me to do a show I was more than pleased to help out as I know that judging by her previous shows Amanda always puts on a superb evening . Bianco Giglio Gallery will be holding the opening night on Friday 30th October and the show will run for several weeks. For those of you interested in attending the preview opening night, you can either contact the gallery for an invitation or email hawksbill fine art who will be more than happy to help sales@hawksbill.co.uk . I can assure you that it will be well worth it with many new originals on show and new print releases.

For more details and location:
Bianco Giglio Gallery
196b Dukes Ride
Crowthorne
Berks
RG45 6DS
01344 566 201
For invitations please email sales@hawksbill.co.uk

The second show will be held at The Picture Framing Gallery in Eastleigh Hants. This show will fill the usual slot that Enigma fine Art usually hold their annual open day at the Marriott hotel Portsmouth. Enigma have now decided to cease trading after the sad illness of Simon this year . Enigma announced that without Simon it was always going to be hard to run the business as he was without doubt the driving force. For those of you who know Simon you will be aware that Simon very rarely just had customers as he believed in making all his clients good friends and over many years he has become somewhat of a legend in the area of wildlife fine art sales. Although it is sad to loose Simon for a while I am sure we have not seen the last of him as when I last spoke with him he was making a truly miraculous recovery.

I have been trading with the Picture Framing Gallery for some years now and it seemed that due to their location, and client crossover with Enigma ,they were without doubt the most suitable candidates to takes over the show. Rather than holding it at the Marriott we decided to hold it at their gallery on the high street Eastleigh. The Gallery is easily accessible from the motorway ,parking is good and there are several big chain hotels located nearby for those of you who travel some distance and like to make a weekend of it. If you require any more details about the location you can either do a map search on google or contact the gallery direct who will be more than happy to be of assistance. The show itself will be held on Sunday the 22nd of November the day after the turning on of town centre Christmas lights. The large shopping centre will be open and will hopefully have a really nice Christmas feel and will make a pleasant afternoon. We sincerely hope that customers of Enigma and from the Hampshire area will continue their devoted support through this new Gallery ,who incidentally did the framing for Enigma and will be able to cater for many of your framing needs.

For more details and enquiries please contact the following:
The Picture Framing Gallery
41 High Street
Eastleigh
SO50 5LG
023 80647658 email ian.reed4@virgin.net

A sneak preview of a new print release for this autumn. Thia will released as a limited edition giclee along with two other litho editions prints yet to be announced.

Back to the grind

David Dancey-Wood — 2009-08-05T22:08:00Z

It has been a while since I last put an entry on the blog. I apologise to those of you waiting for news on forthcoming releases and future shows. As simple as it may seem, the summer has been here. Despite it being somewhat short and now very wet I have been enjoying the time in my garden to reflect and contemplate future works of art.

It is very easy for an artist to become stuck in his or her ways, particularly if they become moderately secure with a comfortable income. This is not a good thing as it is very negative to become complacent, this will almost definitely lead to stagnation. Pencil art in particular over the past few years has become more and more mainstream with many artists taking it up and concentrating on it as their most focused medium. Although I rejoice that finally the lowly pencil might start to gain some worthy recognition as the commercial art world gather to celebrate it. I also wonder if sometimes the hint of saturation can take us down a road of familiarity which we all know can breed contempt. Through my thoughts and pondering over the subject I have realised maybe it is time for a shake up and that I need to start searching again for an inspiration that drives me. This is easier said than done and to be honest whenever I make bold statements like these it often takes many months for them to come to fruition. However the seed is sown and I would like to think I am now starting the path which will hopefully lead to a new road of discovery. What I mean by discovery is that I wish to excite myself with new works of art and at the same time excite the people who attend my shows, maybe even shock a few. I will not be starting to paint abstract pictures using jelly and compost but will maybe start to look at the way I approach my drawings and will certainly try and tackle them from a new angle.

I have had many enquirers over the past month asking whether or not I will be making a new release any time soon. In all honesty I had not planned any such event as the summer trade in fine art prints has always been notoriously slow in the UK. Instead I will wait a month or two and may even let the readers of this blog decide as to which drawing might make a suitable new release.

I can also happily announce that sometime soon for those of you who cannot wait there will be a new Monkey World picture which will be in the same format as the last 'Charlie' pic in both a Giclee and Litho limited edition print. As to who it will be, for those of you who are familiar with Monkey World and the tv series 'Monkey Life' you will be all to aware of the well known character 'Sally'.

Watch this space for more details.

David


                        'julio'
copyright monkey world 2008 ltd edition 495 release

90 Year Old George, The World Famous Near Extinct Galapagos Tortoise Has found a New Girlfriend!

Wildlife Sketches — 2009-08-01T20:15:29Z

You did it George!

Near Extinct Galapagos Tortoise Successfully Mates at 90 years old!

Many of us in the UK watched a natural history program a few months ago about the plight of the Galapagos Tortoise, which were in danger of becoming extinct. This was a very moving program which explained how these giant tortoises had evolved without any predators until ships started to bring people to these islands. We all know about how the creatures of The Galapagos inspired Charles Darwin to develope his Theory of Evolution, (which all but the most stubborn now accept as fact). The program we saw on the television even mentioned that Darwin may never actually have seen a Pinto Tortoise, as they were already very rare due to ships taking these slow animals for food. They were very big and easy to catch, and could supply the crews of the ship will fresh food during long journeys as these animals could be kept alive until needed.

Several species of these amazing animals were totally unique to a specific island, and found no where else. One of these was the wonderful Pinto Tortoise which had evolved a long neck to reach higher vegetation. The Pinto Tortoise was thought to have gone extinct until 1972 when one of these giants was found on the island of Pinto. Although a thorough search was carried out, no other living examples were found. The sole representative of the species was then re homed on another island and carefully looked after by his human companions. They named him George.

George soon became a world celebrity, and has been written about in all the worlds major press. He is the main logo of the Galapagos too. He has become known as "Lonesome George".

Apparently, "Galapagos" means Giant Tortoise in Spanish, but someone else will have to let me know if that's true.

Anyway, George was a bachelor, and no living females of his own species remained. So his keepers, in a bid to try to get him to mate, introduced a couple of other female giant tortoises from species very close to his own. Just to see if he would be interested. And a team of scientists have, since 1993 been trying to coax him to mate. Unfortunately, George wasn't interested it seemed.

Then, last Tuesday, a day which I will now always remember- even though I didn't realise it till today,

Amazed keepers discovered a clutch of unhatched eggs in his “bachelor” pen in the Galapagos Islands.

At a boy George! Way to Go!
Image Credit

Well, your not quite out of the woods yet though. The scientist and the keepers have transfered the eggs to incubators and are waiting the normal 120 days before they know if the eggs have been fertilised, so lets all keep our fingers crossed for George, and the little georges to come.

This is in my opinion the best thing I've heard all summer, and I hope you enjoyed this article.

Vince De Luca.

Advertising to Save The Planet

Wildlife Sketches — 2009-07-08T09:30:00Z

As usual I was browsing the net today and I saw this article on The Guardian website www.guardian.co.uk I thought you'd like to see some of the images.

These images are adverts from around the world collected by ACT Responsible a swiss based company.

"Since 2001, Swiss-based not-for-profit organisation ACT Responsible (Advertising Community Together), has been collecting global advertising that 'promotes responsible communication on sustainability, equitable development and social responsibility' in a bid to highlight how the creativity of advertising professionals can be used to address the world's problems.

Among its 2,500 ads from more than 40 countries and 140 award-winning agencies is a striking collection of adverts that focus on environmental and social issues: from deforestation to recycling and conserving water to climate change" www.guardian.co.uk 8/7/2009

I have to start by showing you this great image called simply "Turtle".

This image says it all really.

Title: Turtle
Agency: Ogilvy & Mather
Made for: WWF (Hungary)

Photograph: WWF/ACT Responsible

The next image is a dramatic one, and disturbing one. It shows how much colour there is in a this beautiful world, and how dirty it can become if we keep messing it up.

First, when you see this image it looks like two separate photo's. But, look again, actually the image merges. In the clear half you can see carp breathing, but on the murky polluted side it difficult to make out even the water.

Title: Pond
Agency: Air
Made for: Biocorner (Belgium)
Tag line: Protecting colors

Photograph: Biocorner/ACT Responsible

This next image is very graphic but I want to show it because it carries on from and article we published on this blog recently called "Letter From Hawaii" by T.C.Evamay.

This poor creature must have been starving, and obviously wasn't getting anything from the waste he kept eating. It's a horrific image for any humane being to see. And it's all down to us.
Incredible just how much this bird had in it's stomach. All of it Waste from humans.

Title: Albatross
Agency: Publicis Mojo Auckland
Made for: Greenpeace (New Zealand)
Tag line: How to starve to death on a full stomach

Photograph: Greenpeace /ACT Responsible

The last image I have selected shows what most of us know is really on the minds and in the hearts of the people that could do the most to SAVE OUR PLANET.

No other comment needed I think.

Title: Oil
Agency: Ogilvy & Mather,
Greenpeace (China)
Tag line: Everyone's entitled to an opinion. Voice yours at forum.greenpeace.org

Photograph: Greenpeace /ACT Responsible

I hope you enjoyed this entry, and I would be very happy to post any comments on the blog.

Vince De Luca.

If you'd like to read the whole Guardian Article, and see many more of these stunning images please visit: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/gallery/2009/jul/01/act-responsible-environmental-advertising?picture=349628871

The Great Migration

Wildlife Sketches — 2009-05-05T10:55:00Z

The Great Migration
By T.C.Evamay

This month, my letter from Hawaii is posted from England where I had the privilege of watching David Attenborough’s documentary entitled, ‘The Great Migration,’ in which he describes, with his typical eloquent and knowledgeable manner, the journey of the wildebeests in Africa I know that many of you would have watched this also. However, another great migration came to my mind; a journey just as perilous but so much longer and of which I am often reminded when I gaze seaward from my home in Hakalau on the east coast of the ‘Big Island’ of Hawaii. Each year Humpback Whales make the journey from Hawaii and back again; a feat no less incredible than that of the wildebeests and it inspired me to write my letter on this occasion, not so much about the migration, but about the mighty humpback whale itself. Nothing to do with England of course, but in Hawaii the humpback is the centre of attention for tourists and marine biologists alike.

With a graceful splendor this 50’ giant glides effortlessly through the depths.

With few natural predators, the humpback whale roams the oceans of the world with almost total impunity. During the fall, it will begin its migration from the rich but icy cold feeding grounds off the Alaskan coast to the warm tropical seas around the equator. Some make the annual pilgrimage to Baja Mexico, while others travel to a small group of islands just south east of Japan. In the main however, almost 70% of north Pacific humpbacks power their great bulk gracefully across 3,500 miles of ocean to the warm waters surrounding Hawaii.

There is a definite pattern to the migration with juveniles usually arriving in Hawaiian waters first, followed by adult males, adult females, and finally the pregnant females, who feed for as long as possible to build up reserves enough for them and there unborn calves. The majority of humpbacks settle in the waters off Maui, however, they can be seen from most vantage points around the islands and as I watch them from my home in Hakalau, I can say with confidence, that there is nothing more exhilarating than watching a humpback breach.

The thrill of watching this monster breach is unrivalled.

The attraction of the Hawaiian archipelago to these giant creatures is three fold. First of all, new born calves do not have a protective layer of blubber to protect them from the icy cold Arctic waters and so the 75 deg F temperatures of the Hawaiian waters is a much more suitable environment them to thrive. Secondly, the humpback only has one natural predator, besides us humans that is… the Orca, or killer whale. The Orca however, prefers the colder waters of the north. The third reason is the Hawaiian topography. The waters around the islands are shallow and in the main sheltered too; the average depth being 300 feet and whilst humans consider 300 feet beyond safe diving range, a humpback whale considers it ideal. Hawaii is as much paradise to them as it is to us humans!

The average dive time for an adult humpback is between 5 and 15 minutes. However, they are capable of holding their breath for 45 minutes or even longer although this is unusual. They have very efficient lungs, exchanging over 90% of air in their lungs compared to only 20% by humans. The size of a humpback's lungs also assists its breathing capacity… the size of a compact car! They also have a substance in their bloodstream called myohemoglobin. This acts as a sort of oxygen store and can deliver it to whatever part of the body needs it the most. A similar holding substance called myoglobin, is contained in their muscle tissue. The amazing amount of oxygen the muscle tissue stores is the reason whale meat is deep red, almost purple color.

Power and grace are but only two adjectives which best describe this gentle giant of the ocean. Like a ballet dancer, it propels its huge 79,000 lb bulk (36,000 kg), through the ocean with apparent ease and can leap its entire length of 50ft (16m), out of the ocean with similar acrobatic gracefulness. Even the way it feeds is graceful and acrobatic.

Relatively speaking… if the humpback had teeth, we would be easy meat.

Humpbacks feed only in summer and live off their fat reserves in winter. The long arctic days bring many hours of sunshine and therefore photosynthesis which creates nutrients in the waters for krill and small schooling fish feed upon. The Humpback employs several methods to hunt its prey, but perhaps the most inventive and impressive technique is known as ‘bubble net fishing.’ A group of whales swim in circles and blow bubbles to create a ring of bubbles around schooling fish. The ring encircles the fish, which are confined in an ever-decreasing area as the whales swim in smaller and smaller circles.

The "bubble net" encircles its catch.

Suddenly, the humpbacks, mouths wide open, will swim upward through the bubble net and swallow thousands of fish in one gulp. This species of whale is a ‘baleen,’ which means it has no teeth. Instead, a protein substance called keratin (which incidentally makes up human hair and fingernails), creates approximately 335 baleen plates totaling 2 to 2 1/2 feet in length.These plates hang vertically from the whale’s upper jaw. The whale filters its food by straining water out through its baleen with its tongue. This allows the whale to gulp between 500 and 1000 gallons of water along with 40 to 50 lbs. of food in one mouthful. It can consume approximately one ton of food per day.

Lunging through the bubble net… Yummy!

The tropical waters of Hawaii are too warm and nutrient free (which is why our waters are so clear & blue) to support the quantity of the humpback's food sources to sustain them year round. For this reason, after they have given birth and weaned their calves, they must migrate back to the colder northern waters to feed and rebuild their blubber supply.

The humpback has few predators; Orcas, some species of sharks, and humans. Individually, although faster, Orcas lack the size and stamina to be successful in an attack against its larger cousin, however, on occasion they will group together into a pack and maintain a sustained attack – which often last for days at a time. A healthy adult humpback will survive such an attack, but juveniles and the infirmed usually succumb to exhaustion. Approximately 20% of all humpbacks have battle scars depicting survival from the angry teeth of battle. On rare occasion, a sick and dying animal might be attacked by some species of sharks, but normally healthy individuals will have nothing to fear from these formidable creatures on a day-to-day basis. By far the biggest predator to worry the humpback is human. A target for the whaling industry throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, the humpback whale was hunted almost to extinction until in 1966 a whaling moratorium was introduced and the species has since recovered to a worldwide population of 80,000. Humans still remain the biggest danger to these giants of the sea however, as they are still hunted under the guise of ‘scientific research.’ Humans are also responsible for other major causes of humpback deaths… entanglement in fishing gear; collision with ships; noise pollution and underwater electronic warfare are but to mention a few which remain major threats to the survival of the humpback whale to this day.

The Humpback Whale is truly a magnificent creature; a gentle giant; a ballet dancer of the deep. The world would be the worse without them and I consider myself privileged to be able to share my home with them.

Spring is here

David Dancey-Wood — 2009-03-25T09:10:00Z

Hi everyone,
It's been a while since I last added an entry so thought it time I that I clocked in. To be honest this is always the quietest time of the year for artists and most are getting ready for new shows and upcoming exhibitions. I personally am taking things a little slower to start with this year, no doubt this will change as the year continues and shows start to become demanding. I have yet to confirm any shows dates as yet but will keep all informed as and when I finalize them.
On a totally different note I was pleased to see the Werner Herzog movie 'Grizzly Man' on tv last night. I have been waiting a while to see this film for many reasons. I love the films of Herzog, I obviously love bears and the great outdoors but was also interested by this strange character Timothy Treadwell. I thoroughly enjoyed the documentary as I knew I would ,but found the whole story quite moving. I think it is quite easy to become disillusioned with people and life in favour of animals, trouble is, this is often a romantic notion and in Timothys case a tragic one. His heart was no doubt in the right place if not a little misguided, I am not sure his conservation efforts in the field were of any value (probably more so now than then) and I am always a bit wary of human animal encounters becoming so close. It is only a rare occasion that this happens naturally and even then I would call it a freak event, it is more often the human enforcing his want of companionship on a wild animal.
If you get some free time watch the film, if a little upsetting at times it more than makes up for it as a well composed entertaining documentary.

Letter From Hawaii

Wildlife Sketches — 2009-03-09T23:19:00Z

Dustbin in the Pacific. By T.C.Evamay ©2009.

Just what is a Dustbin? The dictionary definition describes it as ‘a receptacle, usually cylindrical, to hold and retain trash.’ Perhaps you consider it to be the green wheelie bin your household has to place on the pavement each week or fortnight for collection. Or perhaps the old fashioned ‘can’ style drum with the tin lid and requisite dents. While we might assess both of these to be correct, it is unlikely that most of us would consider the mighty Pacific Ocean as a dustbin. Sadly however, it is exactly that.

A few years ago I moved to Hawaii; the fruits of my labour in California’s Silicon Valley working all hours under the sun – and the moon too sometimes. I was romanced by the palm trees, tropical beaches, warm blue waters, cool breezes and of course, the occasional Mai-Tai! A decision never to be regretted on my part and today I spend my time equally between my homes in England and Hawaii. “Can life get any better?” I ask. It appears the answer is “No,” in fact it appears to be getting worse.

Natural flowing currents in the Pacific form a phenomenon known as the ‘North Pacific Sub-tropical Gyre.’ These currents continuously circle the North Pacific between Japan and the USA gradually diminishing in radii until they converge upon the islands of Hawaii and Midway, a small atoll on the North Western tip of the Hawaiian archipelago, approximately one third of the distance between Honolulu and Tokyo

Above: The North Pacific Sub-tropical gyre directs trash towards the Hawaiian Archipelago.

The whole Hawaiian island chain is affected by the gyre, but Kure and Midway are wildlife sanctuaries and administered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service

Midway is a National Wildlife Refuge administered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), but is probably best known for the World War II battle of the same name in which the US Navy famously repelled Japanese efforts to invade the islands. Sadly, today an arguably larger battle is taking place; one in which consumers from both Japan and America are the aggressors and their weapon is trash. The modern day defenders are the local populace and volunteers from around the world - mainly from Hawaii.

Yes, trash; plastic bags with the logos of well know superstores from Asia and North America; discarded fishing lines and plastic storage tubs; fast food wrappings and milk containers; tampons and condoms; fishing floats and nets, and so on and so on. In all, some 100 millions tons of trash and debris circulate in the currents of the North Pacific of which it is estimated that 80% comes from land-based sources and 20% from ships at sea. It is further estimated that currents carry debris from the east coast of Asia to the centre of the vortex in about a year, and debris from the west coast of North America takes about five years.

The impact of this floating trash upon Wildlife is nothing short of tragic. The Midway Islands are home to many of the world’s endangered species and all are at risk from choking, starving, or drowning as a result of the debris drifting towards, and collecting at, the tiny coral atoll in the North Pacific Ocean.

The effects upon Sea Turtles and Albatross is arguably greatest - turtles with their paddles trapped in plastic bags swim in circles, the bag acting as a sea anchor. Some manage to struggle exhausted onto the atoll only to have the bag snag under an oil drum or such like; young turtles with plastic cable ties encircling their small bodies grow to adulthood with an hourglass shape as the cable tie strangles their shell during growth.

copyright T.Harvey www.seaturtlefoundation.org

As an air breathing sea goer, this sea turtle got caught in a cable tie. As the creature grew, the cable tie didn’t.

Approximately one third of the chicks of the almost two million albatross living here die each year as a result of being mistakenly fed plastic bottle tops, tampons, and cigarette lighters by their parents. Undernourished, they lack the strength to fly and fend for themselves and so starve to death; a death caused by our life style and without ever being given their chance of life. When we see a discarded cigarette lighter floating just below the surface of the ocean, we see trash. When an Albatross sees the same item, it sees squid, the mariner’s friend’s favourite food (see below).

Found on the atoll of Midway, the remains of this Albatross chick have been picked clean by scavengers. They left the undigested plastic bottle top and cigarette lighter. I wonder why?

Even the mighty Humpback whale is not immune to 21st century lifestyles. In the 19th and early 20th centuries the weapon of consumerism was the harpoon, today it is the plastics our lifestyle commits to the ocean; plastic nets that cut into their flesh and make it almost impossible for them to feed.

In short, upwards of a million seabirds, tens of thousands of marine mammals and an impossibly high number of fish die agonisingly each year because they either mistakenly eat the waste of our convenience culture, or are ensnared in it and eventually drown. Plastic items not washed up onto the beach are eventually broken down into particulates, which resemble zooplankton and are subsequently mistakenly consumed by jellyfish.

The situation has not escaped the federal authorities either. The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has established a Marine Debris Program. The program currently has two full-time officers in Hawaii, who have been working to bring diverse groups together across the islands, to tackle the problem locally. Members of staff at Midway’s refuge, together with the welcome and able assistance of volunteers from all over the archipelago, mount regular clean-up operations.

A new swathe of trash and dead wildlife with each tide

The task is huge and thankless and each new tide brings a swathe of new debris; each new tide brings new death as wildlife bodies, entwined in the debris, are washed up too. The battle is constant and seemingly never ending.

This however, is a local clean up solution only. It does not stop the death and destruction and as able and willing as the volunteers are, it has to be recognized that both the problem and solution are global issues and the US Government has to intervene to persuade other Governments to take action – on behalf of the planet. Without that intervention, a whole ecosystem will eventually be destroyed and there is probably very little time left

In 1942 the battle of Midway was considered one of the most decisive battles of World War II and changed the course of the war in Pacific. In 2009 a new battle of Midway is being waged. This new battle has been going on for years, not days, but like its predecessor, much is at stake… arguably even more. The new battle of Midway must be won, only this one will change the course of mankind.

The next time you are in a supermarket checkout line and are asked ‘Paper or Plastic?’ Think of the Dustbin in the Pacific before you answer.

Photograph sources: Public Domain

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Wildlife Sketches presents 1st Bi-annual Free Draw winner with her prize

Wildlife Sketches — 2009-02-25T20:37:00Z

A local bank employee was in for a shock when she was awarded with a rare piece of wildlife art.

A delighted Susie Dear, who works at Barclays House, Poole, was picked as the winner of a prize draw and walked away with a wildlife sketch by renowned artist David Dancey-Wood.

David presenting Susie with her chosen prize -"Time Out" a Bengal tiger.
Copyright Wildlife Sketches 2009

"It was really quite a shock to be told I was winning the piece," said Susie. "It’s just such an amazing picture. It's almost as if it's a photo".

Susie was awarded with the limited edition print of an endangered tiger by David Dancey-Wood in person on behalf of Wildlife Sketches. The artist's 3 year-old son, Leonardo, picked Susie’s winning ticket.

Presentation took place at Barclays House, Poole, Thursday 5th February 2009.

David Dancey-Wood specialises in pencil sketches of endangered animals from all around the world. "It's always flattering that people like my work," said David
"To be able to combine art and wildlife is a dream come true for me and I feel privileged to be able to draw people's attention to conservation issues".

David has been a professional artist for 20 years and has travelled all around the world to sketch endangered species."It's great because some of these animals you could go a whole lifetime and never get the chance to see them face-to-face," said David."Next, I'd like to travel to Madagascar to sketch Lemurs".

Wildlife Sketches sells prints by David Dancey-Wood and is run by local art enthusiast Vince De Luca."I love these prints because they’re just so natural and beautiful," said Vince."We’re hoping to do the next free prize draw in 6 months time."

David Dancey-Wood has been a professional wildlife artist for 20 years.

Wildlife Sketches has an association with Rainforest Concern and 10% of all sales are donated to the organisation.

All customers of Wildlife Sketches are entered into a free bi-annual draw to receive a David Dancey-Wood print of their choice.
Additionaly, during the next 6 months, everyone who signs up for the Wildlife Sketches newsletter will also be entered into a free draw to receive a David Dancey-Wood print of his or her choice.

For more information please contact Vince De Luca at: info@wildlife-sketches.com

Tel: 01202 304460
Mobile: 0770 980 1454

R.I.P Charlie

David Dancey-Wood — 2009-02-18T11:44:00Z

Many of you will know by now of the sad death of the well loved Chimpanzee character Charlie from Monkey World in Dorset. Charlie died in his sleep on Sunday the 8th February due to yet unkown circumstances. He was without doubt the most popular ape at Monkey World and beame quite a star through the television series, Monkey Business and Monkey Life. Know for his unique take on the world as a chimp he was independant and eccentric to say the least. He originally arrived at the park in after the late Jim Cronin rescued him from beach photographers in Spain. Charlie had been appaulingly abused by his Spanish owners with injuries across his face and body, he was also addicted to drugs.
My first encounter with Charlie was soon after I joined the park in 1998 , I had seen him on tv and knew his character from this well. As seen on tv he would often be seen displaying to the tanks from the nearby military base as they passed on the nearby road.
I first drew Charlie in 2005 and it was a refrshing experience. I remember well, sitting with him behind the scenes as I drew sketches and took photos of him, what puzzled me most was how content he was to sit and model for me as intriqued by my actions as I was of him. Often whilst sketching he would pass me presents of sticks and leaves through the wire which I in return would pass back to him.
The picture I drew of Charlie was well recieved, this stays in my mind as a particular fond memory as Jim Cronin was delighted with this new picture of his boy Charlie which he later hung on his study wall at home. Jim was fond of Charlie to say the least despite the fact he was always a believer that favorites should not exist. It is strange that Charlie was chosen to be immortilezed with Jim in the recent bronze I assisted to commisson to remeber Jim. The two of them can now be seen facing each other in bronze in a special area of wild oaks overlooking the purbecks at Monkey World.
I am incredibly pleased I drew the recent picture of Charlie when I did as if I had left it any longer I might not have got the chance again. My only only hope is that I did him the justice he deserves and that the pictures will be of some comfort to those who want to remember him for years to come.

Egg!!!

David Dancey-Wood — 2009-02-13T08:52:00Z

Sometime last year I had a somewhat strange request, which to be honest I gave it very little thought . Just recently the request has come to my attention again as it is now time to fulfill it. I was asked to donate my skill as an artist by drawing on an ostrich egg for a charity auction. The charitable event has been inspired and managed by the oxfordshire gallery 'Iona House'. They have asked many of their well known artists all to donate a piece on a supplied ostrich egg for an enormous egg auction.

When I first agreed to the commission I thought very little of the application of graphite to ostrich egg shell. I actually believed that if I keyed the surface with some sand paper this would make it easier. I was wrong, in fact I was so wrong I thought at one point the task was near impossible. I can quite honestly say that it was the hardest surface I have ever had to draw upon and almost turned to painting it instead. Having no porous qualities the surface of the egg refused to accept any of the graphite I put upon it just moving it around like liquid. In the end it became a case of sheer perseverance and I eventually managed to finish the picture.

I chose to draw a hatchling turtle similar to the one on my edition 'Brave new world' as I thought it was relevant to draw an animal that had newly emerged from an egg.

More details will be given on this auction as it grows nearer and I can assure you it will be a fascinating exhibition, if nothing else it will at least have stretched the skills of the individual artists who have taken part. Let's hope it will raise lots of needed funds for the charity 'Mary's Meals' an African based charity.

Many thanks and speak more soon,

David

How one wildlife enthusiast became an art lover too

Wildlife Sketches — 2009-01-06T03:30:00Z

I think it is always great to hear the thoughts of other collectors of David's drawings. And I am very happy to be able publish this article from Jon who has been a collector of David's work for several years. Jon has many of David's prints and original drawings. He admits to preferring the quirkier animals rather than the more well known big cats and primates. I expect , whilst you undoubtedly appreciate all wildlife, all of you have your own favorites. My favorites are the primates (they all remind me of people I know-although, I'd better not mention who!).

Anyway, this article will interest many of us. Most of us will have had some similar experiences but probably many will also have a little envy for Jons collections and experiences. Thanks Jon for sharing your story with us.

Vince De Luca.

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    My love affair with wildlife art started half a century ago. My parents had come in from shopping, clutching a large framed print from Boots to fill a space on the lounge wall. The picture turned out to be of a huge, solitary bull elephant, standing in sunlight against a rain laden Kenyan sky. I was amazed at the texture of the elephant’s skin, the position and shape of its ears and the way light and shadow played over its body. This picture, Wise Old Elephant by David Shepherd, became the best selling print of its era and the only picture my parents ever bought. Little did I know then that my interest in wildlife art had been born and would continue for the rest of my life.

Wise Old Elephant by David Shepherd.

    By the time I was in my twenties, I was a young primary school teacher with little money. However, a chance visit to an art gallery in Yorkshire led to my first art purchase, a small water colour of a badger. Other subjects by the same artist followed over the years: fox, otter, red squirrel and stoat. Each was well painted and relatively cheap, and, having initially spread them through my home, gradually they became grouped in one bedroom. My first collection was formed.

    Into my thirties, promotion and a little more money. One day my wife and myself heard about Nature in Art at Twigworth and its collection of wildlife art. We fitted a visit into a return trip from Scotland and were wowed by the variety and quality of work from around the world. The artist in residence was Gary Hodges. An expert in pencil, Gary spends hundreds of hours working on his pictures of exotic mammals ranging from zebra to snow leopards. Gary was charming to talk to, but the originals were too expensive for us. However, we were introduced to limited edition prints and came home with two, one each, a serval and an owl butterfly. The second collection was in progress.

    Over the following years many exhibitions were visited, we queued, we talked to lots of friendly people who were passionate about wildlife and its art, and when we could, we bought more prints. The hall, downstairs toilet, stairs and landing were filled. Hippo, rhino, oryx, and many other African mammals were purchased and proudly exhibited. I wanted to know more about these species and so we began to go on safari. Trips to Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Zambia and Namibia have followed. Each, has brought fantastic memories of wonderful creatures, scenery and people, each relived whenever I look at our art collection.

    Into my forties and a new young artist was discovered. Keen to know about our trips and the wildlife seen and photographed, we became good friends. She hadn’t been to Africa and so I started to give her copies of my photos to use as reference. Her skill is immense, particularly in the life she can produce in the eyes of the big cats. More originals were purchased, some being interpretations of actual animals we have seen. Consequently, the lounge filled with a charging juvenile elephant that we had photographed in Samburu. A cheetah, who had sat on our jeep in the Mara, (And whom many of you will know as Kike of Big Cat Diary), adorns the mantelpiece, and the leopard , who unbelievably rested by our jeep in the Kruger, allowing us to take superb close- ups, had to overspill into the downstairs study. We went to more exhibitions, bought more originals of big cats, sometimes helped on the coffee or wine table, and continued to meet lovely people from all walks of life, but with a common interest of seeing and buying the best of wildlife art.

    My fifties approached and, after a trip to Tanzania, in which an agama lizard ended up staring at me from my bedside table at five in the morning, another collection was born. Upon returning home, there in a gallery window was a print of my agama. Brilliantly drawn, I went inside to be introduced to David Dancey Wood.

Basking Agama by David Dancey-Wood.

    As with all artists I have been fortunate enough to meet, he was friendly, good humoured and passionate about his art and conservation in general. I started collecting some of his prints, again of exotic creatures which I had been fortunate enough to see in Africa. Then, I came across an original of a rock hyrax. We had seen these creatures on numerous occasions, including by the pool, beneath our sunbeds, in the Mara. My wife and myself went halves on it and our days of buying his originals had begun. Sandcat, cheetah, vervet monkey looking just like the one that trashed our tent in Samburu, and bat-eared fox followed. Each beautifully crafted with every hair in place and with the surrounding habitat minutely reproduced.

    The remaining room has filled with these fantastic examples of an artist at the top of their profession. But now all the walls are filled and I know that there are going to be more pictures that I will be tempted by. So, do I start to sell the prints to create space, do I rotate them or do I need an extension? I know other collectors face the same situation but has anybody got a satisfactory solution? Perhaps I can overspill onto the blank walls of my mother’s retirement flat. Apart of course, from the space filled by a solitary bull elephant, that started my passion all those years ago.

Jon.

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Jon, you are inspirational. I wish I had the same dilema about too many pictures (build that extension-I think you're going to need it!).

I hope you enjoyed this article? Please leave a comment if you wish.

David's Prints are availlable to purchase on our website - www.wildlife-sketches.com. or click the banner below.

Thanks again Jon.

Vince De Luca.

Announcing Wildlife Sketches Bi-annual Free Draw

Wildlife Sketches — 2008-12-28T15:23:00Z

Announcing the 1st Wildlife Sketches Bi-annual Free Draw

    For those of you familiar with the art of David Dancey-Wood, the opportunity to own one of his unique prints free of charge might represent excellent and exciting news. We aim to please at Wildlife Sketches and we are delighted to announce that we will be hosting a free draw biannually for our customers. All customers who made a purchase from us during the preceding six months will automatically be entered.

    Commencing with a free draw of all our customers in the second half of 2008. The first of the draws will be held the first week in January 2009 - the exact date in not yet finalised as it depends upon the availability of David who will be making the draw personally.

    The winner will receive his or her choice of print from a collection available at the time of the draw.

    There is still time to be entered into the first draw, so why not visit our website at www.wildlife-sketches.com and view the extraordinary work of David Dancey-Wood.

    Whether you make a purchase or not you will always be welcome to leave a comment on the blog or in our newly launched Wildlife Sketches Forum - you can find the link to our forum in the sidebar of this blog.

    Wildlife Sketches has an association with Rainforests Concern, which means that with purchase, fully 10% of all proceeds from the sale of David’s work are donated to this fine organisation. I am pleased to announce that up to the month of December, Wildlife Sketches sponsored two more acres of rainforest as a result of your purchases and this initiative has thus helped to preserve the rainforests and the ecosystems of which they are a part and which in turn, help to balance the global climate.

Vince De Luca

Wildlife Sketches would like to wish all visitors to this blog and all our customers a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Work With Wildlife, Conservation Africa

Wildlife Sketches — 2008-12-08T23:27:00Z

Here is a great site: http://www.conservationafrica.net/

If you ever thought about volunteering to work with wildlife, then this site is a great starting point.

Conservation Africa send volunteers to work in wildlife conservation projects in Africa.

And their site is great. It has details of all of their projects and some lovely images of african wildlife.

I hope you enjoy the article they sent me.

Vince De Luca.

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African Conservation Experience has been sending volunteers to Africa for almost a decade and is the original, most experienced organisation for conservation placements in southern Africa. They offer each and every applicant the benefits of personal experience and all volunteers receive individual consideration . All they ask in return is that you share their passion for wildlife and conservation.

They offer people the chance to work on game and nature reserves alongside conservationists, zoologists, wildlife vets and reserve managers. People join the projects from all backgrounds and countries – students studying at university and looking for life experience, people looking for a career break, and even retirees who are looking for a break with a difference. Volunteer placements can be anything from two weeks right through to three months.

"I had always longed to experience something more than a normal safari," says Tasha Craft, a past volunteer. "With African Conservation Experience I achieved more than I could dream possible; I raised a baby cheetah, and our days were spent bottle-feeding, play stalking and learning to hunt. I assisted with veterinary work, poisoning cases, leopard-tracking and releasing two cheetahs. Not a day goes by where I don’t apply something I learned about myself and the delicate world around me."

If you are interested about reading about the conservation work that African Conservation Experience are involved in, or would like to help out on one of their projects, please visit their website at: www.conservationafrica.net

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Ancient Skills used to help reduce Global Warming

Wildlife Sketches — 2008-12-08T20:57:00Z

Here is an article which appeared on The Independent newpaper's website: http://www.independent.co.uk

It's all about how scientists have started to use ancient techiques, pioneered by the ancient Amazonian Indians, to help fight Global Warming.
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Ancient skills 'could reverse global warming

Trials begin of a technique used by Amazon Indians that takes CO2 and locks it safely into soil

By Geoffrey Lean, Environment Editor, The Independent
Sunday, 7 December 2008

Ancient techniques pioneered by pre-Columbian Amazonian Indians are about to be pressed into service in Britain and Central America in the most serious commercial attempt yet to reverse global warming.

Trials are to be started in Sussex and Belize early in the new year, backed with venture capital from Silicon Valley, on techniques to take carbon from the atmosphere and bury it in the soil, where it should act as a powerful fertiliser.

The plan is to scale up rapidly into a worldwide enterprise to reverse the build-up of carbon dioxide, the main cause of global warming, in the atmosphere and eventually bring it back to pre-Industrial Revolution levels.

The ambitious enterprise – which on Friday received its first multimillion-pound investment from California – is the brainchild of two of Britain's most successful environmental entrepreneurs: Craig Sams, one of the founders of the best-selling Green & Black's organic chocolate, and Dan Morrell, who co-founded Future Forests, the first carbon offsetting company.

They aim to grow trees and plants to absorb CO2 and then trap the carbon by turning the resulting biomass into "biochar", a fine-grained form of charcoal that can be buried in the soil, keeping it safely locked up for thousands of years.

The pre-Columbian Indians used biochar to make the poor soils of the rainforest – which otherwise quickly become exhausted – productive for harvest after harvest. It is still there today, many hundreds of years later, forming islands of black fertile earth in the otherwise unpromising ground.

But it is now being widely cited as a possible solution to global warming by scientists shocked at how climate change is taking place much faster than predicted and convinced that the world must now start not just rapidly to reduce CO2 emissions, but to get the greenhouse gas out of the air.

Among them is Professor James Hansen, director of Nasa's Goddard Institute of Space Studies and probably the world's most respected climate scientist, who believes CO2 concentrations must urgently be reduced from its present 385 parts per million to 350 if global warming is not to run out of control. International negotiations – continuing this weekend in Poznan, Poland – are aimed at stabilising them at the higher level of 450ppm.

Trees and plants soak up carbon dioxide as they grow, but release it again as they are burned or left to rot. But burning them largely in the absence of oxygen, through pyrolysis, reduces the amount of the gas emitted by 90 per cent, and stores the carbon in the charcoal instead. It also gives off energy that can be used as an efficient biofuel.

If the resulting biochar is then buried in the ground it will stay there for some 5,000 years, keeping the carbon out of the atmosphere, and nourishing the soil while it is there. It also cuts down on the use of fertilisers; reduces the emission of methane and nitrous oxides, which are also greenhouse gases, from the ground; filters out pollutants; and retains water, thus combating flooding.

The new enterprise will start with wood grown in Suffolk and with prunings from the Belize cacao trees that supply Green & Black's chocolate. But its founders hope that it will rapidly become a worldwide industry.

Mr Sams calculates that if just two and a half per cent of the world's productive land were used to produce biochar, carbon dioxide could be returned to pre-Industrial Revolution levels by 2050.

He said: "Biomass from trees and plants, which captures carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, is a treasure to be buried in the earth."

To read the article on The Independent website, and more please visit: http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/ancient-skills-could-reverse-global-warming-1055700.html
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This is a great project and I hope it is very successful. I've always liked Green & Blacks chocolate....I like them even more now!

Vince De Luca