Eyes in the Grass

In the big game areas of Africa, viewing lions is not a challenge. Cheetahs are scarce, leopards are secretive but lions are right out there. A pride of lions often resembles a "baker's dozen" loaves of misshapen bread scattered on the ground. Often the flick of a tail or an ear is the only sign of life. Their body language expresses languor. Even prey animals are not frightened by the sight of them.

It is the lions that you cannot see that the prey should fear. A lion can hide in grass scarcely higher than a foot. Their attack technique is a charge from an ambush. The moment before the charge they are crouched very low, both hind feet on the ground and both eyes on the subject of the attack. It is this moment I have tried to capture in this painting. By the time you realize this is more than just a field of grass, you might be thinking your last thought.