Wild beast – wildebeest

Sweeping horn shapes and the textured strokes of a shaggy mane give this square portrait a bold composition. Earthy colours contrast with a soft blue-grey background, while an amber eye provides a concentrated point of warmth. Expressive brushwork balances closely observed detail throughout the painting. Painted by hand with artists’ oils on 100% cotton box canvas, using the artist’s own reference photographs taken in Zululand.

Meet the subject

Meet Jabu, who wears a permanently thoughtful expression but is usually thinking about grass. He likes the company of his Zululand herd and a grazing spot that allows him to keep an eye on proceedings. Every so often, a sudden burst of energy interrupts his sensible routine—a short dash, a flick of the tail, then straight back to lunch.