BARBARA FUGATE Drawings And Paintings

First zoo drawing day of the new year--year of the snake!

Today was, and still is, mighty sloppy outside!  Rain, dark skies, cold...perfect day to draw inside the reptile house at the zoo!  Here are a few I made...

I mostly worked from the male dwarf crocodile on multiple sheets as one drawing...the last sheet interrupted by the keeper telling me the zoo was closing, so I had to stop.  I did find out from her, though, that the male croc was hatched in 1968, making him 45 (life expectancy is 50-100 years).  The smaller crocodile there is a female of the same age.  She even vocalized a bit while I was drawing--always exciting.  the female is the smaller drawing, showing her eyes closed and "smiling"! 

Maria, the three banded armadillo, was running around as she always does, forever busy!  I managed a quick 10 second'ish gesture before she burrowed underneath a rock.  What a fascinating beauty she is.

And finally, or firstly actually, a head study of a gaboon viper that was eyeing me (head up in the air) the whole time.  I think he/she was hungry...anxious for their keeper to fling in a tasty furry dinner...

HAPPY NEW YEAR OF THE SNAKE!

(All drawings by Barbara Fugate, conte on paper)

 

 

 

More (new zoo) Drawings

I worked mostly on colored paper (9x13") with conte crayon, and couple drawings with watercolors.  One pheasant was nearly camoflaged close to my feet (in a free roaming aviary).  I slowly opened my sketchbook, turning pages quietly, and hoped he/she wouldn't mind me looking at them that way for a while.  The bird seemed a little concerned but stayed in their place for a bit--moving out of view after maybe five minutes. Interactions like that, if they can be called interactions, are ones I really love having while drawing at the zoo.  An intimate drawing moment with another being, especially one whose experience of the planet and each other is something we'll never really know.

Thanks for visiting!  All drawings are available for purchase--just email me.

august zoo drawing today

It was good to be at Woodland Park Zoo drawing today.  There were the typical summer crowds to weave through--but I found some good, relatively quiet spots, to stand and draw from the animals.  As it turned out, I ended up drawing birds mostly.  I started with a peregrine falcon that was being held by her raptor keeper.  I drew her while she was eating some pieces of quail.  It was interesting to hear her keeper answer visitor questions and give facts about falcons.  Being the fastest animal on the planet that can fly 200 miles an hour, everyone was obviously impressed!  An amazing and beautiful animal--and serious predator.

The following drawings were all made with charcoal on 9x12" paper.

The drawings are of a Peregrine Falcon, a dozing Blyth's Tragopan, preening Crane, Flamingo, a grazing Hippo, and an almost napping Cinnamon Teal Duck.

All drawings are available for purchase.  Email me with inquiries.  Thanks for visiting!  Click on images for larger versions.

.

Zoo Drawing to start the New Year

One of the best ways to clear you mind, be outside breathing fresh air, think of nothing but making marks on paper with wonderment and determination--is to go to the zoo and work from the great animal models that reside there.  Here are a few I made the other day--I began with the Turkey Vulture (magestic and primitive), the elephants (gracefully agile giants), a motmot (love their color and tail), and a green tree boa about to have his lunch (this is the first time I've seen them not perfectly draped and wound around a branch motionless--so exciting to watch and draw). 

All on paper.  Conte crayon and colored chalk, 9"x12".  Email for purchase inquiries.  Thanks for visiting! Click on images for larger versions.

.

   

Penguins and Gila Monsters

At the zoo today--a couple of drawings I made of penguins and gila monsters.  The Penguin was honking as I drew him/her just as the zoo was closing--getting dark outside and chilly, although the penguins must not mind that a bit.  The Gila Monsters are hibernating this time of year in the reptile house.  Their enclosure is kept dark to allow them to have their natural winter nap.  All piled up ontop of one another with reptilian smiles--they look like they're all having sweet dreams!

Thanks for visiting.  Both drawings are made with conte crayon on paper.  The Gila Monster drawing has a little wash as well.

 

Portrait of Twigs

Cat portraits are a special commission--and drawing Twigs was a unique opportunity, from a very special kitty.  Twigs was so cooperative!  Lounging on her best friend's lap, getting so much attention all afternoon--I'm sure it there was some "kittie nirvana" happening there!  I was so happy to be a part of it, to be asked to make her portrait drawings, and spend the afternoon with Twigs, Joanna, and Chase.  It was rainy outside, with thunderstorms even, while we happily made art inside--energy all around, inside and out...

All drawings are conte crayon on paper. 

Click on images for larger versions. 

Images courtesy of Joanna B.'s collection.

 

At the zoo this afternoon...

Drizzly rain, thinner crowds, quiet drawing time...ahhh, the pleasures of drawing at the zoo today!

Here's a few from my sketchbook.  All are 9x9" drawn with conte crayon.  Purchase inquiries, please email me.  Thanks for visiting!

Click on images for larger versions.

(bearded dragon, poison dart frog, meercat, African elephant, aracari toucan)

 
 
 
 
 
 

An Elephant's Eye

Magnificent, Wondrous, Wonderful, Fearsome, Powerful, Inspiring, Curious, Awesome, Humbling, Fascinating Elephants.  That's what I drew today.  At Woodland Park Zoo.  Chai and Bamboo, Asian elephants, and Watoto, an African elephant.  Here are a few from my sketchbook.  All are made on 11.5"x14" paper with black conte crayon.  Click on images for larger versions.  Email me for purchase inquiries.  Thanks for visiting!

And many thanks to the amazing elephant keepers.  The attention and care they give to these pachyderms is a beautiful thing.

Drawing at the Zoo

I'm glad I ignored my "to do list" today and went to the zoo to draw.  The big cats were out on view--both tigers and lions--an exciting find.  And I worked from one of my favorite muses, the elephants.

Here is a selection from my sketchbooks.  All are drawn with conte crayon.  Email me with purchase inquiries.  Thanks for visiting!   Click on images for larger versions.

     




 
 

.

First Drawing Trip Back at Woodland Park Zoo in 2009

It was mighty chilly but worth the frozen fingers to be drawing at the zoo again!  I had to get there before January was over to bring in the new year drawing from some of my favorites at Woodland Park Zoo: the elephants (Watoto and Chai), parakeets flying, a raptor (great horned owl), one of the green aracari toucans (I drew from the male today--he lost a foot years ago but gets along just fine with one, what-a-bird) and a side neck turtle that resides in the cozy reptile house where I finished my visit to warm back up.  Here's a selection from my drawing satchel today.
All drawings are made with conte crayon and vary in size but on average they're 10"x10" in size.
Please click on images for larger versions and thank you for visiting.