Young Giraffe

I wanted my portrait of this African juvenile to show the vertical thrust of youth. The young giraffe rises from a profusion of grasses, and its patterned, rust-coloured spots follow the curve of the neck nearly to the top of the paper.

I also wanted to suggest the dust-infused atmosphere of Africa, using blended dry colours of muted gray and saffron in the soft, multi-textured background of this original print. In spite of its size, the giraffe is a strangely delicate animal, therefore, I used rather delicate pastel colours and avoided contrast.

The process of original printmaking appeals to me because it is a human process; it involves no complex optical equipment other than my own eyes. I believe that technology often separates us from nature, and I like the idea that my original prints are made by my hand.