Week 13- Mini Series #1, three tall animal drawings.

For my first mini series, I decided to focus my work on three tall animals. A flamingo, giraffe, and kangaroo. At first glance, these creatures seem nothing alike. Yet they all have very long bodies. These heights range drastically, but I consider all of these heights to be significant for a wild animal.  When standing, male kangaroos can be six feet tall. Flamingos stand at a height of around five feet, and giraffes are about seventeen feet tall! It is hard to imagine the way the world must look ten feet (or more) above us. In the wild, an animal's height, among its other attributes, can make or break survivability. In the case of a giraffe, being so large may make them an obvious target for predators which is no bueno. Hands down, the giraffe is the tallest of the three.  Height may also be more intimidating. Kangaroos, for instance, may kick other animals to death with their powerful, long legs. All of these living beings use their sizes in different ways.

Flamboyant Flamingo

This dancing flamingo has some finesse. I made sure to articulate its thin, dainty legs that fit snuggly inside pink ballet shoes. Since pink is a common color in ballet uniforms- on leotards, tights, and shoes, I made sure to use plenty of it. Flamingos just so happen to also be pink. Pink hues play a dominant role in this piece, similar to the shades of gray I used in "Memory Man." A long ribbon encircles its side, drawing more attention to the elegant creature. 

Sentry

A giraffe's extended neck provides a view that most creatures do not get to enjoy. This long neck is both an advantage and disadvantage for the animal. Being so gigantic, it may make them an obvious target for predators. It could also be quite intimidating for smaller animals. Ultimately, I was in awe of this body part. I thought that it would be amazing if soldiers had these elongated appendages. With it, they could foresee any threats or enemies! This guard or sentry has binoculars, combat boots, and some camo to represent his or her commitment to the line of duty, so to speak. A musty, gritty watercolor backdrop accentuates its figure since war is, simply put, dirty. 

Boxing Brute

Many kangaroos are muscular. So much so that they will literally beat up other kangaroos in defense or for other reasons. Therefore I used the word "brute" in the title. A brute is a wild, savage, creature. Many people may not be aware of a kangaroo's brutal nature. There have actually been real boxing matches between humans and kangaroos- gloves and all. This kangaroo has its gloves together, prepared for a punch. I used darker colors to give a sense of fear or dark, menacing emotions.