ARTPRIZE 2020

"For a Limited Time Only: Africa's Big Five"

This series of five painting are inspired by my trip to  the countries of Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia and South Africa,  where I was fortunate to photograph and observe these animals in their native habitat.  All five are being threatened with extinction due to human encroachment, Poaching, and big game hunting.  Human population growth and the need for expansion in farming has radically effected the migration patterns and food sources for these creatures. Poaching has led to the slaughter of tens of thousands of Elephants on a yearly basis for their ivory.  Both legal and illegal Big Game hunting, especially among lions, leopards and Cape Buffalo has effected the gene pool in a negative manner by culling not the weak and  infirm, but by selecting the strong and most capable of extending the positive aspects of the species.