Zoe and Me, 8 / 24 / 2009

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For the last few hours I have been studying this painting of Zoe, which I have just finished, or at least I am trying to finish. I keep making changes. Of course, each time I make a change, it is a gamble, I can make it better, or I can ruin it. I guess I had better quit, before I screw it up, and just declare it to be finished. As I look at the painting, I am thinking about Zoe and what she has meant to me. I saw her last Thursday morning. Since I had not seen her in several months, I am not sure if she remembered me or not. In the past, she would come to the fence and purr wanting me to scratch her. This time, she came to the fence, looked me in the eye, bared her teeth and hissed. Maybe she was just mad at me for being gone so long. I went to the fence and knelt down on my knee by her and put my hand out to her. She didn’t move, but she quit hissing and just stared at my eyes. She has very large beautiful green eyes .
 
Zoe is a red Florida panther that lives at PrideRock Wildlife Refuge near Terrell , Texas . She is about five years old and weighs 112 pounds. Until she arrived at PrideRock on June 19th of 2005, she had grown up in the home of a young couple that lived in Montgonery County , Texas . There she had her own room with a window so she could go to and come from her outside enclosure. She is very much like a domestic housecat in that she purrs, meows and enjoys being petted and scratched by humans.
 
On my visits to PrideRock, I always approach her pen with great anticipation. She is just so beautiful and is so expressive with her eyes. She seems to know “how to strike a pose” for us photographers.
 
As most of you know, I am a retired architect that is now devoting my time to drawing and painting. I started drawing again in September of 2006, after a thirty five year lay off. At first, I did pen and ink drawings of animals and birds until I started doing watercolor paintings again in July of 2008. So I have been doing watercolor paintings now for only about thirteen months. I am still searching for the style and subject matter that I should devote my time toward. I do enjoy doing landscape paintings, especially of the Texas hill country and West Texas and I intend to continue doing them from time to time. Even though the subject of wildlife for art is not in favor at this time, I guess that is where my main interest is so that is what I will continue to do.
 
I have decided that my mission statement will be: “My mission is to strive through my drawings, paintings, writings and public appearances to portray our wild animals – whether in the wild or in the refuges – in their most noble and peaceful state to help in their protection, preservation and sustainability.” So what should be my medium, style and subject matter.
 
I liked the style and technique that I developed for doing my pen and ink drawings, especially of the big cats from PrideRock. Also, in doing the drawings of the PrideRock big cats, there was a human interest theme that appealed to a lot of people – “retired architect that now does drawings of wildlife to help support a wildlife refuge”. However, people in the art business advised me that the pen and ink drawings lacked color which is necessary to market art work. I tried, without much success, to add color to the pen and ink drawings.
 
About a month ago, I started doing watercolor paintings of the big cats at PrideRock. In doing these watercolor paintings, I have kind of merged my pen and ink drawing technique with my watercolor painting technique. I like the results and the comments from those that have already seen the paintings of Nia and Jake have been very favorable. Now, I have another painting using this style and technique that is of Zoe for you to comment on. Hopefully you will like it.
 
This medium, style, technique and subject matter may be just where I belong. What do you think? I would appreciate your thoughts and comments.