Beauty and the Beast

As I discussed in my last blog, the variety of critters in Africa is quite amazing. Seeing a leopard in the wild with my own eyes was breath taking. I often stare at my own cat impressed by how soft and pretty she looks. How the patterns of her fur are perfect. I don't think I took a breath as the incredibly beautiful 2 year old female leopard strolled by our jeep glancing up at my face. It wasn't fear that slowed my respiratory system, it was the absolute awe of her beauty. How black her spots were. How velvet she looked and how graceful she moved. The leopard above is a one year old male. He was sitting and waiting for his mom to come back with some grub. He was pretty too but not like the female.

Then we have the humble wart hog. We scared up this mom as we were taking a walk. She was hunkered down in a hole with her little babies. She didn't go far, watching us closely to be sure we weren't going to cause any harm. But the longer I looked at her the cuter she became. Now it is hard to separate the beauty of motherly love but the artist in me could she her image on canvas. Her tusks shining in the hot sun, her big ears picking up the sounds of Africa.

Will anyone buy a painting of a leopard? If I do a good enough job it is quite likely. Will anyone buy a painting of a wart hog? We will soon find out.