Art by Robert Bateman

[Shan]

Ok, I'm not big on bird pictures, but I love the one "Great Blue Heron in the Rain." "Tiger at Dusk" looks almost real.

This guy is good, very good.

[LaFille]

I love the heron one too; I don’t know why, it feels to me like an image for a book.
Owls for tonight.

Night Fall – Eagle Owl



Mossy Branches



" I see the spotted owl as a kind of hapless symbol of what we have to do to preserve a huge and very important ecosystem - the North American temperate rain forests. We go around to international congresses, telling others to stop cutting down their rain forests, when we are, in fact, much closer to cutting down the last remaining old-growth rain forests on our own continent. The spotted owl needs large tract of unbroken forest to survive. When these tracts are sliced up by logging operations, others predators come in. The spotted owl cannot stand the competition and becomes extinct in that area."

[LaFille]

Irish Church and Barn Owl



" In the Connemara district of Ireland there are a number of wild and lonely lakes. If you take a boat to a certain island on one of them you will find a path winding into a woodland. The path leads to a clearing and there are the ruins of an early 12th century Christian church. There was a dreadful and dark time for the fledgling Christianity. Vikings and barbarians were busy robbing and destroying the fragments of the Roman Empire. In remote corners little bands of priests kept the flame of learning and literature alive. The Irish monks were of vital importance in hiding and maintaining the spark of civilization that was there when stability and security returned to Europe (that is, if one can describe the feudal system as stable and secure).

I felt that this clearing and this church with the sky for its roof had a very spiritual presence. I cast the painting in green tones . . . a spiritual colour to me. I added the barn owl, which could have been there. This bird is near the earliest owls on an evolutionary scale. It also has deep symbolic roots in the beliefs of the pre-Christian Europeans. I like the way the owls face echoes the eroded faces of the saints embedded in the Romanesque arch."

Giant Eagle Owl (from the Sappi portfolio



One of a set of twelve prints, each being an integral part of the exclusive limited edition Sappi portfolio. The portfolio is limited to only 550 in size and proceeds benefit The Sappi Conservation project. Funds generated from the sale of the portfolio go to the World Wildlife Fund South Africa to further its vital conservation programs. Prints included are: Giant Eagle Owl, Grey-Hooded Kingfisher, Ground Hornbill, King Cheetah, Kudu, Lion Cubs, Pygmy Falcon, Pygmy Geese, Springbok, White Rhinoceros, Blue Cranes and African Buffalo.

[LaFille]

Bunnies.

Winter – Snowshoe Hare



"From under the spruce tree the snowshoe hare peers in his “freeze” pose. His world is full of enemies. His kind provides an important element in the diet of all of the carnivores in the northern forest. When his population falls, the population of his predators also declines."

Among the Leaves – Cottontail Rabbit



"The baby cottontail has left his nest. He was born about a month ago, blind, pink and thumb-size. His mother had made a nest of rootlets, grasses and down from her own chest. By using four to seven materials, when the mother leaves the nest, the baby is perfectly protected and camouflaged."

[LaFille]

Foxes

Questing – Red Fox



Fox and Beehives



" When I returned from my trip around the world in 1958, my whole goal in life was to find some land in the country and settle down. This is a corner of that land. All of the white pines in the painting were planted by me as little seedlings in 1959. A Dutchman in our neighborhood asked if he could place some of his beehives in the shade of the corner of the meadow. We got an annual bucket of excellent honey in the bargain. The ruddy glow of the western sky gave me the idea of a fox for color. That is the magic time of day, when the foxes are "on the prowl."

Willy and Wary



"The red fox population expanded as man moved into the forest with his clearing. It has thrived and has won a reputation for wiliness and opportunism. His unending appetite for mice has made the fox of great benefit in farmland, but his taste for domestic fowl has made him enemies among farmers.”

[LaFille]

Mustelids.

Edge of the Ice - Ermine



"Soft, white, with delicate pink ears and nose and alert eyes, the ermine is no cuddly toy. He is a little killer with muscles of spring steel."

Otter Study



"The otter is a favorite animal wherever it is found. It lives in beautiful country, usually along lakes and rivers and even seacoasts. Otters are gregarious, often traveling in family groups and enjoying a strong sense of fun."

[LaFille]

Big cats.

Cougar in the Snow



"The cougar is, of course, one of the few great hunters left among the ranks of North American wildlife. The cougar is now extinct in most of his original range, but in some areas, particularly in the West, it is doing quite well."

Starlight - Cougar



Excursion – Cougar & Kits



"It is late afternoon, and the sun is glowing through the tops of the Douglas firs. It is time for the mother cougar and her kits to venture out for the evening hunt. This particular scene shows an ecosystem with which I am very familiar. In fact, it surrounds our home. On the southwestern mountain slopes, which pick up the afternoon sun, one finds the Garry oak savannah and open parkland with grasses and wildflowers under the trees. In the valleys and northeastern slopes grow the Douglas fir, cedar and hemlock spruce. This blend is just right for the cougar family, providing shelter and cover for rest, plus open areas affording good vantage points. It is also a perfect place for cougar kits to play."

[LaFille]

Leopard in Sausage Tree



"The leopard glides through the branches of the sausage tree without effort or sound and instantly blends with the convoluted limbs. The coolness of his attitude in his green, airy world reminded me of the atmosphere of a tropical café - exotic and relaxed."

Leopard at Seronera



"The leopard is a predator that hunts by hiding and pouncing. He is the best climber of the big cats, and he spends much of his time up in trees. This provides an airy vantage point where he can watch for his prey. It is amazing how difficult it is to see an animal of this size up in a tree; its dangling tail is usually the giveaway."

Leopard Ambush



"As I painted, the image of a tightly drawn bow and arrow occurred to me. The leopard is the clenched hand of the archer, the lines in the cliff suggest the arrow, and the drip stains at the left represent the bow. The composition is one of tightly drawn tension which could be released in a flash."

[LaFille]

Shadow of the Rainforest



"Part of my fascination with the jaguar, the largest wild cat of the Americas, stems from my interest in big predators. But like many large carnivores that live at the peak of their particular food pyramid, the jaguar also stands as a symbol of the disappearing tropical forest. Its varied diet alone demonstrates the diversity of the habitat it requires, preying as it does on at least sixty different species, including the razor-tusked rainforest pig called the peccary, and the capybara, which as the largest living rodent weighs as much as 132 pounds. I've never seen a jaguar in the wild - only jaguar footprints in the jungle of Belize. But that somehow seems appropriate for this swift and solitary hunter. The jaguar once ranged from the southwestern United States to southern Argentina. Now, except in the still-vast rainforest of the Amazon basin, jaguars are very rare, their numbers having been drastically reduced by big-game hunters and the vanishing habitat."

Symbol of the Rainforest



"The first shafts of sunlight begin to penetrate into the depths of the tropical rainforest. The haunting sounds of night are giving way to the dawn chorus of birds. Squawks, trills, and whistles echo through the vast leafy spaces, but almost never is a bird seen. It is time for the great hunter of the night to find a secluded place to curl up for the day. For a moment, the golden glow catches the proud feline head as the eyes gaze through the complex tangle of the world that is his domain."

[Shan]

Very good pics, Fille.

This guy is fantastic. Some of these last ones are just great.

[LaFille]

Agreed. And he really made a ton of paintings... since the time I sneak for his art, I still discover new pieces.

These nexts are for you.

King of the Realm



”This painting is a composite of many of the noble lions I have seen, showing the “king” in the maturity of his rule. He is a ruler of his pride and ruler of many square miles of hunting territory. His resting place is high in a granite outcrop, a protrusion of ancient Africa which rises above the game-filled plains.”

Into the Light



“It is early morning in the Ngoro Ngoro Crater. Although this is Africa, the high elevation brings very cold nights and misty mornings. The solitary lion is plodding his way slowly through the dewy vegetation. There is no particularly comfortable place to lie down, and there are no prospects for an easy hunt. A lone male is not a successful hunting machine. Lions are communal and cooperative. Hunting involves strategy and teamwork. Moreover, the team, or pride, is mostly made up of lionesses. Big males are more imposing and powerful, but they are not usually as quick and collaborative. Their role in lion society is to defend territory against rival lions and other predators such as leopards and hyenas. This big fellow is in his prime or perhaps just past it. Maybe he has lost his pride to a younger male. As he steps out into the sunlight of the rapidly warming morning, he is still confident and king of all that he surveys. It is perhaps lucky that he cannot foretell the future.”

[LaFille]

Dispute Over Prey



“The scene I've recreated here is very common; the lioness makes the kill, and the male moves in to commence the feast. A lioness is used to putting a male in his place in disputes over protecting cubs or a fresh kill. It's mostly bluff and bluster, but in the case of feeding, she usually lets him get his way.”

Lions in the Grass



“This lion and his lioness are just becoming alert in the afterglow, at the end of a day of relaxing. In the next few moments, they will rise and stretch and begin the evening hunt for food.”

[LaFille]

African Amber – Lioness Pair



“Two lionesses in the late afternoon sun glow like amber in the grass. They are alert and ready. Their muscles are perfectly in tone and ripple slightly as does the gentle wind on the clumps of grass. They face the wind for the scent of prey.”

Lions at Dawn



“With their regal elegance, these cats forever intrigue us. Lounging playfully in the morning sun, these stately creatures bring us up close in a wildlife encounter that is especially one of a kind.”

Up a Tree – Lion Cub



"Lion cubs, like all ground mammals, have a sense of play. It is a good way to learn about relationships and even to practice hunting. I have seen so many family groups of lions that I have lost count. They are usually so relaxed that one could almost (but not quite) drive over a tail. However, only once have I seen a cub go up a tree. I'm sure that it often happens because lions are quite capable of climbing (except perhaps for the larger, older ones). In a couple of places, such as Lake Manyara in Tanzania, climbing trees to sleep seems to be a custom. It is in the category of a culture passed on through generations. This particular cub climbed the tree out of youthful exuberance. Then, not knowing what else to do, he promptly fell asleep.”

[LaFille]

Momentum – Siberian Tiger



Siberian Night



“Winter in Siberia has long nights. The dark, coniferous forests with their snowy burden hold many secrets. There are still some areas remote from human disturbance where the big cats can roam. Their huge, furry feet pad softly on the freshly fallen snow. It is surprising that such a large animal can move without any sound. Nor can its gorgeous coat be easily seen in the complexity of undergrowth and branches. A touch of moonlight skims across the snow. The Siberian Tiger pauses in the gloom, a secret not revealed.

May the secret be safe forever. Sadly, however, many men want to discover the Siberian Tiger and kill it and sell its body parts for shamefully high prices. And other men want to destroy the Siberian forests and sell the trees for shamefully low prices. That would be a darkness far blacker than the Siberian night.”

[LaFille]

Muahaha, serial-poster-girl is quite done for tonight.
A Few wolves to finish with.

Wolves on the Trail



“Wolves live in complex social groups and teach their young the strategies needed for survival. They even pass on a culture from generation to generation. As the day ends, the wolf pack is out looking for food. Rabbits and mice are quite easy but do not go far. The big goal would be a moose. The pack has found a moose trail and has followed it to th edge of a large beaver pond. They have paused to look and listen before moving away from the cover of the trees. Just because they have found the trail does not mean they will get the moose. If the trail is made by a mature healthy moose, it is unlikely they will catch him. If they do catch up to a moose and it turns to fight, the wolves would likely give up without a t;ry. One blow from a cloven hoof would main or kill a wolf.”

Edge of Night



“The last glow of winter sunlight fades, transforming the lake shore into a ribbon of gold. Silhouetted against the silent snow, a band of hunters emerges. It has been a variable winter. The snow has partially thawed and then frozen again. The light dusting of snow on top has made traveling easier for the wolves. However, the strong crust also makes it easier for the deer. The wolves can hunt better with a crust strong enough to support their ample paws, but too weak to hold the weight of their sharp hooves. During a heavy winter, the deer tend to "yard-up" in a cedar grove with trails for easier access. There is such a yard nearby, but the deer are not there because at the present, they can move around on top of the snow. The wolf pack must get under way if they are to eat tonight. As dusk deepens, they move out of concealment to the lake. The current along the near shore has opened up the water. In it, the last golden glow of the sky is reflected. Perhaps the deer are on the other shore. Perhaps they are not. The life of a wolf is, at best, uncertain.”

[Shan]

Fille, I love the lion pics especially King of the Realm, Into the Light, and Up A Tree.

They are all good, but those are my favorites.

The wolf ones are OK, but the lion ones are better. ;D