Sleeping In: Chipmunk, work in progress. Scratchboard and acrylic ink, 7 x 5 in. Copyright 2008, Tania Nault.
I think this little guy is almost done. I’ll live with the colours for a few days (while I work on my Polar Bear, update Thursday) and then see what last minute touches he might need. I’m really pleased with the colours in the nest, but I can see myself tweaking the coat colours a bit.
Sleeping In: Chipmunk, work in progress. Scratchboard, 7 x 5 in. Copyright 2008, Tania Nault.
And just when you thought I’d forgotten about my poor, tired, little friend, I finally give him a nest to sleep in. I know a chipmunk’s nest is usually a lot bigger than this - they typically build it over a cache of food in their underground den - but for the sake of artistic license I thought less would be more. Next step is colour. This one will be going into the Regina Federation of Artists Spring Show & Sale, March 28 - 30, Wascana Place, 2900 Wascana Drive. So if you’ve always wanted to snuggle up with a chipmunk…
Nesting Chipmunk: Work in progress. Scratchboard, 7 x 5 in. Copyright 2008, Tania Nault.
Can any Canadian who grew up in the late 60’s and 70’s hear a flute without thinking of the opening notes of the Hinterland Who’s Who television vignettes? I know I can’t. Those haunting notes and the deep, reassuring baritone of Canadian naturalist John Livingston were guaranteed to stop whatever game my brother, sister and I were playing on the living-room floor and transport us momentarily into the Canadian wilderness. There we would visit with animals we had never seen, like the far-away Muskox, or more common local creatures like the Chipmunk. I’m not sure how politically correct it is for a wildlife artist to admit that television influenced her, but those little animal movies sure helped me form an early connection with parts of nature I otherwise wouldn’t have had the chance to see.
For those of you denied the wonder of this of this marvelous piece of Canadiana, or for those in need of a trip down memory lane, the Canadian Wildlife Service webpage contains a video archive of the vintage clips as well as a library of the videos aimed at a new generation of future wildlife lovers. I highly recommend them.
As you can see from the above, I spent what little art time I had today working on my Chipmunk for this little board. I figure I can easily add the background after my trip to the museum on the weekend. (I’ll also be putting the finishing touches on Promy - tune in on Monday for the final update.)
For a more complete story on the Chipmunk, why not visit the Canadian Wildlife Service Hinterland Who’s Who page on the Internet?
Nesting Chipmunk, Sketch. Pen & ink over graphite, 7 x 5 in. Copyright 2008, Tania Nault.
Today, I spent the day being a full-time mom. I know, I know, when you’re a parent there’s no such thing as part-time. What I mean is: both my kids were sick today, my husband had an exam to write, so I stayed home from the day job. Wow, Tania, you must have gotten a tonne of artwork done! Ah, actually, no. The polar bear composition is giving me some grief. I find myself trying to draft a balancing act: tell the story of the polar bear struggling in his environment without having the whole picture become overwhelmingly depressing. I’m also trying to keep my story within the realm of a workable composition.
Between fetching tissues, finding cuddly blankets and making favourite lunches (as visions of polar bears danced in my head) I drew a chipmunk hibernating. Read into it what you will… I think it’ll make a cute board, and I need some cute boards. I have a show coming up with the Regina Federation of Artists on March 28 - 30, 2008. I drew the little guy based on some photos I took last summer (no, they weren’t sleeping at the time, just sitting, curled in a little ball). I just need to find some references for the look/materials of the inside of a chipmunk nest. If I remember correctly, they have a display of rodents hibernating at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum… I’ll have to pop down there this weekend.
Well, it’s back to the drawing board for my polar bear… as soon as I’ve made sense of all the scribbles I’ll come back with a better composition and some thoughts on it. And hey, I’m not too proud to ask: feel free to leave a comment if you have any brilliant ideas.
Red Squirrel. Photograph, 7 x 5 in. Copyright 2007, Tania Nault.
One of my goals during our trip to Narrow Hills Provincial Park this summer was to photograph White-tail Deer. I knew that deer wandered near the cabins during the early morning hours. Although I’m not a morning person, I woke up before sunrise and headed out. Fast forward several hours and I finally had to admit that this would not be the morning I’d get my deer. So I decided to switch gears and head back along a trail I knew led past a small meadow where rabbits often hung out. I was walking along quietly when I saw a little rabbit through the trees, sitting just along the treeline. I moved off the trail and was moving in to take my shot when an explosion went off in my left ear. I practically peed myself and the rabbit? Well, it didn’t so much run away as it disappeared. It was quite amazing really, almost as though it had never been sitting there at all. I looked into the tree to see what had made the sound and found myself almost face-to-face with a Red Squirrel. He stopped his barrage long enough for me to take the above photo.
No motion sensor or car alarm I’ve ever seen is as effective as that squirrel. And no, I never did get any deer photos.
