Lament (sold)
Wolf in pastel/pastel pencil. 26.5” x 23” (framed).
This image instantly came alive to me after spending a very, very chilly day in January at the UK Wolf Conservation Trust. I had been looking forward to visiting the wolves again for quite some time, but was keen to wait until the winter to see them in all their glory with their beautiful, thick winter coats. I have long been an admirer of wolves and it was a wonderful experience to get so close to some of them and for the briefest of times, to share a little bit of their world.
Wolves are certainly something of an enigma, they are both revered and despised all at the same time. For so very long, they have been the bad guys, the villains, the untrustworthy or deceptive characters portrayed in fables and fairytales. As a consequence of this prejudice and fear, they have been persecuted relentlessly for centuries. Yet, there is something about them that draws so many of us to them. We seem to connect with them on some higher level. Perhaps it is their close familial links with those canine cousins that so many of us adore. Whatever it is, somewhere along the line, they have earned our respect.
It's very difficult for me to pinpoint what it is about wolves that I find so fascinating, what it is that draws me to them. Certainly, no one can deny the power of those amazing eyes, which seem to penetrate into the very depths of your soul, but for me, on this particular visit, it was listening to that incredible, haunting, spine tingling howl. Hearing wolves howl evokes an emotion so primal it can make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end and tears spring to your eyes. Touching base with some centuries old forgotten memory perhaps? Whatever that connection may be, quite simply, you just can't help being in awe.
In Lament I wanted to try to portray some of the captivating power of that soul penetrating call. By stripping back the image to the most basic of colour palettes and background I hoped to create some of that sense of nature at its most primal and basic. A wolf laying bare it's soul to the world. I was genuinely pleased with how producing this picture made me feel and how it continues to make me feel when I look at it now. I hope it touches base with you too.
How to buy
Prints are also available.
Where can I learn more about Wolves?
The UK Wolf Conservation Trust do stirling work in their tireless endeavors to illuminate people as to the true nature of wolves, not only in this country but also abroad. They are involved in many projects worldwide, helping to preserve wolf packs and educate communities in the hope that they will become more tolerant and accepting of wolves and be willing to live peacefully alongside them. If you would like to learn more about wolves and the work that the trust does, simply click on the link above.
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