Mongolia Monday- WildArt Mongolia Expedition Supporter ASSOCIATION GOVIIN KHULAN

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log goviin khulan I want to introduce you today to one of the supporters of the WildArt Mongolia Expedition, Association GOVIIN KHULAN, which is run by French khulan researcher Anne-Camille Souris. We’ve corresponded via Facebook for a couple of years and were able to meet and chat in person in Ulaanbaatar during my trip last year.

Anne-Camille also works with Mongol artists through her International Art for Conservation project.

International Art Goviin Khulan ©In the past she worked at Takhiin Tal, one of the destinations of the Expedition, studying takhi. Very few researchers were  carrying out research on khulan compared to takhi, so she switched species. There are also khulan at Takhiin Tal, which is in the Great Gobi B Strictly Protected Area. She has offered to lend her expertise in both these wild equids, for which I am greatly appreciative.

You can find out more about khulan here. And below is the information Anne-Camille sent me about her organization and its work.

Khulans2008_2_A-C SOURIS_S.FOX_FB

“The Association GOVIIN KHULAN is a French non-profit organization that works in the southeast Gobi, Mongolia, to protect the endangered Mongolian Khulan (Equus hemionus hemionus) and its habitat in partnership with local rangers and communities.

The Mongolian Khulan – also known as Mongolian Wild Ass – is an endangered wild Equid and is one the 5 recognized sub-species of the Asiatic Wild Ass. The Mongolian Khulan represents the largest population of this species in the world. However, its population has known an important decrease by as much as 50% since the end of the 1990’s and about 15 000 individuals are now left in the wild.

The Association GOVIIN KHULAN has built a multidisciplinary approach to ensure protection of this endangered species on a long term: a) research, b) local and international information, education and awareness, c) involvement of local communities, d) partnership with local rangers,  e) technical and professional support to rangers and citizen conservationists/scientists, f) partnership with Buddhist monks, g) reinforcement of links between Mongolian culture and traditions with nature protection, and h) community development & animal and environment ethics (in progress).

Khulans2008_A-C SOURIS_S.FOX_FB

Step-by-step iPad Drawing- Pacific Tree Frog

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Pacific Tree Frog ArtRage iPad 3
Pacific Tree Frog ArtRage iPad 3

I’ve finally had time to get back to drawing and sketching on my iPad. Here’s a step-by-step of a Pacific tree frog, one of many, who lives in our yard, but who showed up in my husband’s office, probably courtesy of one of the cats. I took some photos of him and then released him back down at the pond.

The drawing took about two hours and uses the same skills I apply to any other art media I may use. My current favorite stylus is a BoxWave EverTouch, which has a fine metal fabric tip instead of rubber, which means less drag, none really, on the surface of the tablet’s protective shield.

First I do a sketch
First I do a sketch using the pencil tool in a light tone
Then I lay in washes using the watercolor brush tool
Then I lay in washes using the watercolor brush tool
Another wash layer
Another wash layer
I start laying in colors with the crayon tool
I start laying in colors with the crayon tool
And just continue adding layers until I get what I want
Aadding layers of color until I get what I want and refining the eye
Adding final touches like the light in the eye
The eye is mostly done and now I’ll finish the body
Pacific Tree Frog ArtRage iPad 3
And, once again, the finished drawing-Pacific Tree Frog. I enjoy adding all the noodling of colors pushing and pulling values and temperatures, along with defining the forms

Mongolia Monday- WildArt Mongolia Expedition Announcement! Sharon K. Schafer Joins The Expedition!

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3_SchaferI’m very pleased to announce that fellow Society of Animal Artists Signature Member Sharon K. Schafer has joined the Expedition!

Sharon has a diversified background with skills ranging from wildlife biologist, naturalist, photographer, writer, and illustrator. Now as a full-time artist, she combines two loves – nature and art.

At Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA she earned a degree in Wildlife Management and subsequently worked as a field biologist in Washington, California, and Nevada for Soil Conservation Service, Pacific Gas and Electric, and the Bureau of Land Management.

Dawn Watch: Desert Bighorn Sheep Acrylic on Clayboard
Dawn Watch: Desert Bighorn Sheep
Acrylic on Clayboard

In 1998, in an effort to combine her interest in both art and nature, Schafer founded Skydance Studio and is dedicated to the creation of products and images that promote a deeper understanding and appreciation of the beauty and diversity of nature. She is a signature member of Artists for Conservation and the Society of Animal Artists.

Beyond the studio, Schafer shares her artistic talent and enthusiasm for the natural world by teaching art and nature-related classes through Canyonlands Field Institute, Joshua Tree National Park’s Desert Institute, Red Rock Canyon Interpretive Association, and has conducted workshops at the National Association for Interpretation National Conference.

In addition, she has developed natural-resource-related educational exhibits and images for the US National Park Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the US Forest Service among others.

Canyon Light: Double-crested Cormorants at the Nest Acrylic on Clayboard
Canyon Light: Double-crested Cormorants at the Nest
Acrylic on Clayboard

Her passion for the natural world has lead her to the very ends of the earth, where she has worked over 100 days as an photographer, videographer, and artist-in residence in the Arctic, Antarctic, and sub-Antarctic Islands.

Schafer presently resides in Boulder City, Nevada where her studio overlooks the inspiring beauty of the Mojave Desert.

Low Hanging Fruit: White-tailed Antelope Ground Squirrel in Cat Claw Acacia Acrylic on Clayboard
Low Hanging Fruit: White-tailed Antelope Ground Squirrel in Cat Claw Acacia
Acrylic on Clayboard

Educational background:
Graduate Study, 1976-1978, Natural Resource Management-Wildlife Management, Humboldt State University, CA
B.S., 1976, Wildlife Management, Humboldt State University, CA

Awards and recognition: (selected recent)
2012, Artist For Conservation, 14th Flag Expedition competitive grant, Vancouver,
British Columbia, Canada
2012. The Art of Conservation, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
2012, Art of the Animal Kingdom XVIII, Bennington, VT
2012, Art and the Animal, Blauvelt Art Museum, Oradell, NJ
2012, Association for Partners of Public Lands National Conference, National Conference, Keynote Speaker, Las Vegas, NV
2011, Art and the Animal, Dennos Museum, Traverse City, MI,
2011, Art and the Animal National Tour, The Wildlife Experience, Parker, CO
2011, Art and the Animal National Tour, Dunnegan Gallery of Art, Bolivar, MO
2011, Art and the Animal National Tour, Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee, WI
2011, Signature Member – Society of Animal Artists
2011, The Art of Conservation, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
2011, Art of the Animal Kingdom XVII, Bennington, VT

Ancient Whispers: Sloan Canyon Petroglyph Watercolor and Gouache on Arches
Ancient Whispers: Sloan Canyon Petroglyph
Watercolor and Gouache on Arches

Current contact Information:
Skydance Studio
1448 Bronco Road
Boulder City, Nevada  89005
702/293.3929 (studio); 702/239.3673 (cell)
skydancestudio@earthlink.net

Websites:
Fine Art – http://www.skschaferart .com
Graphic Art, Interpretive Design, and Planning – www.skydancestudio.com
Art of Nature Museum Exhibit – http://www.skschaferart.com/presentation/

WELCOME ABOARD!

New Painting Debut! “Rocky Perch (Siberian Ibex Kid)”

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Rocky Perch (Siberian Ibex Kid) 12x9" oil
Rocky Perch (Siberian Ibex Kid) 12×9″ oil

I got hundreds of great photos of ibex at Ikh Nart last year. I’ve done some drawings to familiarize myself with what they look like and how they are put together. You can see those here. This is the first painting I’ve finished, a 12×9″ of a kid who was part of a small group I watched for over half an hour one morning. They were up in the rocks at the far end of the valley where the research camp is located, so an easy hike with great rewards.

Here’s a photo of the setting, which includes the nanny who, as you can see, is wearing a radio collar. The morning light was really lovely.

Ikh Nart 2012

Mongolia Monday- Explorers and Travelers: Beatrix Bulstrode on Mongolian Bactrian Camels

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beatrix bulstrodeFirst in 1911 and again in 1913, an intrepid British woman, Beatrix Bulstrode, traveled in and through Mongolia. The result is one of the great travel classics of all time “A Tour in Mongolia”. I’m only 78 pages in and have already found enough material for 3-4 blog posts. She was a wonderfully droll writer in the the English tradition, coming up with unforgettable phrases like “desperately unsportsmanlike” to describe her Finnish missionary traveling companion’s offer to throw a number of Chinese out of an inn to make more room for Mrs. Bulstrode. She refused for the reason stated above, and so  joined them and nine or ten Mongols either sleeping on the raised heated bed the Chinese call a k’ang or tucked into every available corner.

These days, tour companies like the one I work with, Nomadic Journeys, uses camels for cross-country trekking trips.
These days, tour companies like the one I work with, Nomadic Journeys, use camels for cross-country trekking trips. They carry all the baggage, tents, food and even a ger for use as a kitchen and dining hall.

As she headed north out of Kalgan up onto the Mongolian plain and the Gobi, she passed camel caravans going south. She had a wonderful ability to pick up information and write about what she saw in a vividly compelling way. Here is her description of the bactrian camels:

“The staying power of camels is proverbial. The caravans in Mongolia march from twenty-five to twenty-eight miles a day, averaging a little over two miles an hour, for a month, after which the animals require a two weeks’ rest when they will be ready to begin work again. Their carrying powers all the same do not bear comparison with the ox-cart. The ordinary load for the Bactrian, or two-humped Mongolian, camel is about 2 cwt. For riding purposes, though despised by the horsey Mongol, a good camel may be used with an ordinary saddle for seventy miles a day for a week in spring or autumn without food or water. The points of this particular species are a well-ribbed body, wide feet, and strong, rigid humps. The female camel is pleasanter to ride and generally more easy-going than the skittish young bull camel, who in the months of January and February is likely to be fierce and refractory. I have heard it said that if a camel “goes for you” with an open mouth, you should spring at his neck and hang on with both legs and arms until some one renders you timely assistance and ties him up. Generally speaking, however, they are not savage. They make as though to bite, but seldom actually do. The female might, in fact would, try to protect her young; and the cry of a cow camel when separated from her calf is as pathetic as that of a hare being run down by the hounds.”

My first time on a Mongol bactrian camel. Western Mongolia, Sept. 2006
My first time on a Mongol bactrian camel. Western Mongolia, Sept. 2006

There will be more excerpts by Beatrix in the future. Stay tuned.

Sea of Cortez Wrap-Up: What A Weekend!

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One of the banners which uses an image from my frigate bird triptych
One of the banners which uses an image from my frigatebird triptych

Most of us who have traveled in groups have experienced the phenomena of everyone swearing undying friendship and promising to stay in touch and then, after awhile…crickets….as the participants all go back to their daily lives and routines. There was no reason to believe that this group would be any different or that very many would make the effort and spend the money to come back from all over the country for a one-day opening reception and group dinner. But I, and they, did! Every artist in the show was at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum on March 16!

I didn’t take as many photos I as probably should have or could have, but sometimes one just wants to be a part of an event, not a recorder of it, and this was definitely one of those times. As seems to be the case with events like this, there’s never enough time to see and talk to everyone else although I did my best.

Dr. David Wagner greets a guest. My triptych "Magnificent Flyer" was chosen for the "title wall" for which I am very honored
Dr. David Wagner greets a guest. My triptych “Magnificent Flyer” was chosen for the “title wall” for which I am very honored

It’s an amazing show we’ve collectively created and I am honored to be a part of it. I think we really captured the spirit of the Sea of Cortez and the area where we spent a week in March of 2010. Yes, it’s been two years since the trip. You can read about it and the creation of two of my three paintings in the show here.

Guy Combes and Andrew Denman
Guy Combes and Andrew Denman

As enjoyable as the opening was, the REAL fun began at the home of the couple who put their fishing yacht at our disposal on the trip (without which there would be no Sally Lightfoot crab or magnificent frigatebird paintings) and then hosted us all for dinner in the evening. It was warm, a nice break from the cold or rainy winter weather elsewhere, and there was a even live mariachi band to accompany the delicious Mexican food.

John Kobold, Ronnie Williford, Paula Williford, Mary Garrish
John Kobold, Ronnie Williford, Paula Williford, Mary Garrish

As a way to show our appreciation to Dr. Wagner for all his hard work and organizing of the trip and then the exhibition (definitely an exercise in cat herding at times), after dinner a number of us presented a light-hearted, but sincere tribute roast.

Paul Rhymer and Carolyn Thome
Paul Rhymer and Carolyn Thome

Yours truly kicked it off with a “media analysis” of the tremendously conscientious (a steady stream of emails month in and month out for over two years) communication on the part of Dr. Wagner. Then followed a recreation of The Incident of the Stingray Sting (hoping to post the link to a video when available), the Sting Ray Song and the presentation of various gifts and awards. Our hosts were also put on the spot recognized and then, as the finale, Andrew Denman sang, with new words, “We’ll Do It Our Way”, which tells the story of the trip and some of the memorable things we saw. The video for that is available for viewing here. You can see photos of the reception and the evening’s festivities here.

Here are the credits for the cast:

David Wagner Gets Roasted

Andrew Denman, as The Singer
Kim Diment, as Chorusline Dancer
Susan Fox, as Media Analyst
Mary Garrish, as the mild-bedside-mannered Physician
John Pitcher, as the wayward Artist and Co-Producer
Rachelle Siegrist, Chorusline Dancer
Featuring Wes Siegrist, in the lead role as victim, David Wagner
and Sue Westin, as Choreographer and Co-Producer

Molly Moore, one of our merry band of artists, put together a 38 minute slide show of trip, which you can view here.

Susan Fox with "Up Close-Sally Lightfoot Crab"
Susan Fox with “Up Close-Sally Lightfoot Crab”

For more about the trip and images of one work by each participating artist, go here.

"El Tigre-Nacapuli Canyon"
“El Tigre-Nacapuli Canyon”

Sea of Cortez Opening Tomorrow!

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Magnificent Flyer oil 40x46" (three panel triptych)
Magnificent Flyer oil 40×46″ (three panel triptych)

I’ll soon be on my way to Tucson for the opening festivities of the Sea of Cortez exhibition this weekend. You can read more about the show, my paintings and the wonderful trip 30 of us artists took here: https://foxstudio.biz/category/sea-of-cortez-mexico/

I learned yesterday that “Magnificent Flyer” is being used for banners and signs to mark the exhibition. I’m very honored and sincerely thank the staff of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum for selecting my work.

Mongolia Monday will not appear next week, but will return the following Monday.

Mongolia Monday- My Cashmere Goat Drawing In Switzerland

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Cashmere goat, graphite on vellum bristol
Cashmere goat, graphite on vellum bristol

Back in January, I received an email query from a graphic designer in Switzerland. She had come across the above drawing that I had done of a Mongolian cashmere goat while doing a Google Image search and wondered if I would allow my “stunning sketch” to be used for hang tags on cashmere products that are to be sold in Switzerland’s largest department store. We quickly negotiated a rights and usage fee and I sent her an image to her specifications.

But I’ve learned how this kind of thing can go after working for fifteen years as a freelance graphic designer back in the 1970s and 1980s, so I haven’t announced it even though it’s pretty exciting. My fee was deposited in my Paypal account day before yesterday, so here is the design mockup that was emailed to me showing how my drawing will be used.

My drawing of a Mongolian cashmere goat on the proposed hangtag
My drawing of a Mongolian cashmere goat on the proposed hangtag

Of course I have no idea where the cashmere they are using originates, although the odds are that it is Mongolia, which produces the world’s highest quality, but no matter where it came from, a Mongol goat will be used to help sell it.

People do ask if artists ever sell anything off the internet and I have sold originals that way. But this is another aspect….designers looking to license images for specific uses. Fortunately my commercial illustration training and background gave me the knowledge I needed to professionally negotiate an arrangement that served both our needs. I got a nice fee for a single use of a drawing that I had already done and they got an image that serves their client. Without the internet there’s no way they would ever have found it or me.

I Have Five Entries In The “We Said Go Travel” Travel Writing Contest!

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Time to milk the camels.
Time to milk the camels.

I’m not a “writer” but I do write, mostly on this blog. I ran across a travel writing contest sponsored by the We Said Go Travel site and decided to re-write five of my posts from my two-week camping trip in Mongolia in July 2010 and see what happens.

Everything that fits the theme, “Inspiration: A Place That You Love” and is written in grammatically correct, decent English is being posted on the website. There will be judging for cash prizes, though, by Richard Bangs, who they describe as “the father of modern adventure travel, so I might even win a few bucks.

Three of the five stories have been posted. The fourth is scheduled for March 12. I’ll update this post as the stories go live.

You can read about the contest here.

You can read my entries at these links. Enjoy!:

http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/camels-and-the-nomadic-dung-fire

http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/an-unexpected-gift

http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/mongolia-the-valley-of-the-yaks