Yesterday I was able to get an almost full day at the Auckland Zoo. It’s been a while since I’ve been out sketching with the nib pens and ink brushes. So partly it was a day of cracking the rust off, and partly it was just a need to be in the company of animals again. As it turns out Kim’s mom works at the zoo. Thanks for the ticket Helen!
Auckland, you might like to know, has a terrific zoo. Well-maintained, clean, animals all looked well cared for, nothing in the facilities stood out as sketchy. Except of course, for me and my frantic scribbling. It’s always tricky drawing animals from life because you can’t help but aim to make portraits, yet they of course are always moving. The best you can do is let it be a warm up your hand & eyes with succinct, lively marks.
There were two birds that I had real interactive moments with. This parrot got right up to my face-level on the cage and repeatedly said “Hello.”
The sulpher crested cockatoo, Captain, has been at the zoo since ’91 has no cage and was very sweet and observant.