We came across a dramatic rocky outcrop scene in the Kruger National park that I thought would make a fascinating unusual oil painting.
Continuing our trip through the park:
But before coming across that rocky outcrop, our daughter pointed out a…
Southern Yellow billed Hornbill:
The hornbill was sitting high up in tree, cool as can be, looking very pleased with himself! Can you see him eyeing us?!
You find them in dry bushvelt (bushland) and savanna woodlands. They make a wuk, wuk, wukwukak, wukwukak call that crescendos and then fades away.
Often two Hornbill birds call simultaneously with opening wings and head bowing movement. Like they are trying to get your undivided attention! When they hop, it looks so comical and cheeky you want to laugh at their frolics.
It usually feeds on insects on the ground. So it sits up in a tree to spy for insects that could possibly in the grass below on the ground.
Driving along we stopped the car because we spied…
A strange rocky outcrop:
During winter we often get grass fires in South Africa. Because the spring rains were late, when we went to Kruger National Park in early September, parts of the park still had burnt-out blackened sooty areas.
I’m telling you this, so you’ll understand why this painting looks so black and grey without any grass.
When I took the photo of it, at the time of our trip, I thought the rock formation looked dramatic and wondered how it would be if I painted it.
I must say it wasn’t so easy to paint. Maybe because I was concerned it was such a dismal black and grey painting and perhaps not a painting anyone would like to have hanging on their walls back home!
But it’s typical of the rocks that leopards would choose to perch on top and survey the countryside for possible prey.
Here is a leopard oil painting:
Afraid it isn’t the same rock outcrop as my painting above. But I’m showing you how leopards like stretching out on high rocks and survey their hunting grounds.
I painted it some time back.
The size is .810 x .606m and on stretchers. It’s a made up scene, put together especially for those people who love wildlife paintings. But I think it was more to satisfy my desire to paint a leopard on a rock!
In the northern eastern part of South Africa there are a lot of thorn Acacia trees and bushes. Anyway I think that’s the name of the trees. It seemed only fitting that I would put one in the background and give the leopard a little shade. I wanted the leopard to look restful and contented.
- As usual I blocked in the main shapes in the composition and then added the details as I worked up the painting.
- To get that rocky texture of the rock, I used a palette knife here and there (not thickly).
- And then filled in the dark cracks and shadows, to give the rocks shape and dimension.
- The final touch was to into-play the colours to get just the right atmospheric pleasing ambiance.
Hope you enjoyed having these paintings in my blogs. Wherever possible I fit them in to hype-up my travel blogs.
What a great painting
Glad you enjoyed it.
Beautiful post. Vividly described and illustrated. I had never seen or heard of a yellow hornnbill. Looks amazing and what you describe about its behavior makes it even more fascinating
Thank you for saying such kind words. Our trip was indeed something very special for us.
Aw cool how awesome! I love the rocky texture and scene, I particularly like the way you’ve managed to give a really good feel of depth - I feel I’m looking into the painting :)
The leopard is amazing too, the rocks look great as does the leopards relaxed but aware look
As always, great paintings - keep it up! 😀
Thank you for reading the whole post. It really shows in the way you replied to it.
And I'll try to keep posting!
Wow mam, its a awesome photography , i really Impressed see this bird photo. You are great photographer,i think you love always bird?? M i right?
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To me the bird is a fascinating guy with that huge peak. It makes him look so important! ;)
Yes i am also love bird another i love all kind of animal photography
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Krugar park is realy beautiful place. And you made such a nice views in painting.
Have you noticed from all the photos and paintings I've used in this Kruger park series have showed how diverse each scene is?! In one of the coming up blogs there will be a green river scene. So different hey, to that grey burnt grass scene of the rocky outcrop in this blog!!
Wonderful and beautiful bird really wonderful thing good, my dear
The article is also wonderful for you to have all my love and appreciation
Thanks. Hoped you would enjoy it.
Also left a comment on your last post.
Wow. Its look great. Awesome photography.
Oil painting look very beautiful.
You can draw your imagination through oil painting. Its real art photography
Thanks. It's wonderful been an artist. You have an excuse to use your imagination!
Leopard oil painting just make me wow.
Its great. Great painting and photography
It's exciting to paint pictures. It's like taking an adventure. Thrilling and nerve-racking at the same time!
There are lots of lessons from every post that you have. It helps us a lot. There is no doubt that you are a very good writer. Again I would like to thank you for writing so beautiful.
So pleased you enjoyed it and there was something it that helped you.
Yes, that's it.
As you write, your writing teaches a lot of things.
Thank you for helping us.
I think the most difficult thing is to combine imagination into a visual form. But your painting works offer something different, that is as if your painting lives in the real world. How can? Actually, I want to ask how can I visualize my imagination from a great distance? Thank you for the perfect work @artguru!
I took note of your question and will give it great thought before answering it as a topic in a future blog.
But as for now I'm not so sure of what you mean. What do you mean from a great distance? Do you mean long before it was completed? Perhaps how the idea of the painting's composition was conceived and put together? That is: how an artists makes up a painting from nothing?
Far is my figurative language to describe that your painting lives in my imagination even though I can't reach it directly (far). And, apologize if my connotation language is not so effective. :)) 🙏
Ah, so that is what you mean. Thank you for coming back and giving me a better understanding of what you meant. OK, so it lives on in your memory. Well, some people have said that once they have bought my paintings, they find that under different lightnings, that is: different times of the day and night, they see something different every time. And that makes them always looking at it to see what else they have missed, and that makes the painting everlasting.
Do you know how I do that? I use more blurry content than detail. So have another look at my painting. Not everything in your painting has to be finely defined, only the important things. The blurry stuff is left to their imagination, to carry forward the story as they would like to believe in and change according to their own moods!
wow its amazing photogrphy and nice places of south afirica i wanna see this places
I would be wonderful if you could go through Kruger National Park. But try to fit in at least 3-4 days in the park to see the variety of scenes and animals.
You are always a wonderful publisher and you rely on a great way to explain things with an excellent curriculum
great post and great photography and great draws
You write better stories and blogs when you have actually had some experience on your topic. In this case I actually went through Kruger park and remembered my reaction to what I saw. The trip was that exciting, to be able to write about it.
It's really a wonderful park
Congratulations @artguru!
Your post was mentioned in the Steemit Hit Parade in the following category:
Thanks for posting about there been so many comments. But really there are some great folks here who came and did all the comments. Bless them.
I cherish the rough surface and scene, I especially like the way you've figured out how to give a great vibe of profundity - I feel I'm investigating the composition..
The panther is astounding as well, the stones look extraordinary as does the panthers loose yet mindful look
As usual, extraordinary artistic creations..
I suppose most people would wonder why paint such a dismal grey scene as a burnt out bare uninteresting scene. Well, I suppose I like to be challenged. You learn a lot from being challenged. It's like taking a unknown adventure. You really don't know how you will handle it until you start on the journey!
It's fun to enjoy @artguru's oil painting. You paint with extraordinary abilities and imagination. Every time enjoying your painting, it reaches peace in this chest. Thank you @artguru!
I'm so pleased that the paintings touched your heart so much. All the time I take to paint the pictures makes it all worthwhile, thank you.
It is the most beautiful publication I have encountered so far wonderful drawings and excellent photography
Thanks for your comment. Stick around, maybe you will enjoy the rest of our trip though Kruger National Park.
You are dependably an awesome distributer and you depend on an incredible method to clarify things with a superb educational modules a..post and incredible photography and extraordinary draws.. I like it..
Keep it up and carry on activities..
I think to be on steemit we must produce stuff worth reading. So I put my heart into it. Not only must it be fun for me to do all the thinking up and writing writing, and painting too, I want others to enjoy it to. So it makes it all worth it when people like you say such kind words about what I do. Thank you.
So very good post to provide in this platform just o like it dear friend and I follow your post and I will support your post always best of luck dear friend..
And this park just looking very nice and traveling is my favorite passion..
So go ahead and I'll wait for next post..
It's fun to take you on the ride through the park too. Hope I can keep up to the standard you are expecting!
I love to watch animals and paintings.
And you captured two in one in your post.
It takes time to paint an oil painting, because you have to wait for each layer of paint to dry before working on the painting again. So I can't always put one in every one of my blogs. But since the leopard oil painting was done some time back and fitted the topic, I thought why not add it in too, to give the blog more buzz.
The Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill is a beautiful hornbill. Basically, found in North-eastern Africa; specifically the following countries: Sudan, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia, Uganda and Tanzania. Indeed, they are looks amazing.
However, thanks for sharing this photography/blog
Have a good day
Aren't we lucky in Africa to have such a lovely bird just there in our backyards!
Amazing park.. I like it your every post @artguru
Thanks for sharing this my post.... thanks you
It's great to have you following my blogs. I really appreciate it.
Hope I can always provide something that you'll enjoy.
@artguru
Aww wow...!
Awesome captures
Which really fascinate me😍
In reality, this hornbill looks amazing,
Actually,
Oh, thanks for adding that most interesting and fascinating facts about the Hornbill and the dwarf mongooses.
Just a great post one I appreciate your post my dear friend so I am proud you cause your every content just good and helpful for us ..so carry on your activities..so this your contribution just marvelous I think that your post very informative and helpful for us..
Keep it up..
I will wait for next post and go ahead..
Best of luck .
I put my heart and soul into what I write and paint, ever hoping other will enjoy what they read and see, and perhaps learn something new in all that.
Most welcome to steemit @artguru
Really beautiful travel and park.. I like it.
I appreciate your every post. thanks for sharing this post... best of luck in your new post..
Thanks for your welcome. I've been around about 1-2 years now. And I remember you commenting before and followed you. Glad you enjoyed this blog and hope you enjoy the next.
I think most troublesome thing is to join creative energy into a visual frame. However, your depiction works offer something other than what's expected, that is as though your canvas lives in reality. In what capacity can? All things considered..
I need to ask how might I envision my creative ability from an awesome separation? Much obliged to you for the ideal work..
When I paint I put my self in the scene, heart and soul, live in the story I'm creating. I love to feel the vibes of the scene so I can put that into the painting. To do that I look for where I can add atmospheric haloes and shadows, to give it dynamic atmospheric dimension.
I appreciate your every thinks so Carry on your activities you are the best one in this platform so we will support all time carry on dear..
Best of luck and I will wait for your new post..
Thank you. I'll try my best and hope I wont let down your expectations!
Looks delightful and exquisite
Our trip was so exciting that it has lingered in my mind ever since. When something touches your heart you just can't forget it. Glad you enjoyed this blog.
Thanks a lot for sharing this your valuable post .. actually your ever post just mind blowing thanks for sharing the details and I will wait for next post..
Keep it up and Carry on your activities..
Whew! You say the kindest words.
You know it makes it all worth the effort I put into my blogs. Thank you.
Welcome dear friend..
I agree with you and actually your every just helpful for us..go ahead I wish you are the great development in this platform so Carry on .
Wao so amazing you are so enjoying your travel.Kruger National park is my favourite park.Southern yellow billed Hornbill looks so great.yeah i see his eyes.so amazing.That is very big issue in forest wildfire.That is so sad.This painting is black.Many tress many animals or grases burn in this fire.leopard oil painting is really very wonderfull.You are wonderful artist.Very great combinations of colours in this oil painting.Very beautiful tress in this oil painting.Your photography always amazing.Thanks for sharing dear. @artguru.
Aaah did you see the twinkle in the Hornbill's eyes too?! ;)
Yes, the forest and grass fires are scary while burning. When we owned 10 acres of land some years back, I usually landed up fighting fires alone as everyone was away, either at school or at work.
very nice post
Very nice post i
Like The method of writing
And photography
- raymocha
I'm a bot. I detect haiku.
I often wonder the way I write is effective enough. So thanks for your encouraging comment.
This hornbill is a common but they looks really beautiful.
Basically, It is a medium sized hornbill. Here i can see, They have a grey neck, white belly, and black back with abundant stripes and white spots. Overall, they looks nice.
Anyway, (This is a awesome spectacular place)
There are many kind of animal and beautiful nature.
Steem on...!
The Hornbill my be common to most of Africa, but taking interest in this one added a thrill to our trip. He looked so cheeky and proud sitting up there in the tree looking down at us in our car. Suppose to him, he had seen so many cars too, just another common car! ;)
Wao best trip.Best and famous park in the world.You are so enjoying your trip with your family.Thats best time.Nyala buck looks so beautiful.Wonderful click.Your camera result is very great.Very neat pics.Zebra & giraffe is very beautiful animals.Both of animals is to big.Colours of zabra is so attractive.Warthog gather Drinking water in the waterhole.I m so enjoying your travel trip.kruger is my favourite park.Thanks for sharing.dear @Artguru.
Great post
Which blog did you see zebra in? There was a bird and a leopard in this blog...
Thank you very much. I do so appreciate it.