Tag Archives: wolf

Leaoprd in Magenta, painting by Alison Nicholls

Very Peri Painting

2002 will be the year of Very Peri paintings (and Very Peri everything else) because Pantone chose Very Peri as it’s 2022 color of the year. 

Pantone’s 2022 Color of the Year – Very Peri

As you can see, I’ve been painting with this, and similar hues for a long time – knowing that the day would come when my paintings would be fashionable!
And now that day has come…
How shall I celebrate?
Perhaps with even more Very Peri paintings!

Leaoprd in Magenta, painting by Alison Nicholls

Leopard in Magenta, acrylic on canvas 20×16″ by Alison Nicholls. Sold

Okavango Palms

Okavango Palms, watercolor 20×16″ by Alison Nicholls. Sold.

Lone Wolf by Alison Nicholls

Lone Wolf by Alison Nicholls

Have a Very Peri 2022!
Alison

www.ArtInspiredbyAfrica.com

A painted dog (African wild dog) and an Arctic wolf.

Painted Dogs AND Wolves – 1 Night Only!

Dr Greg Rasmussen of the Painted Dog Research Trust in Zimbabwe will be speaking at the Wolf Conservation Center in South Salem, NY, about the challenges faced by painted dogs (African wild dogs) and how research can help conserve the species. After the lecture you will be able to see more charismatic canids in the shape of the resident gray wolves at WCC.

A painted dog (African wild dog) and an Arctic wolf.

A painted dog (African wild dog) and an Arctic wolf.

I recently spent some time with Dr Rasmussen in Mana Pools and I can promise you this evening will be a fascinating one. You will also have a chance to win a framed copy of one of my recent painted dog field sketches, valued at $140, which I am donating for the evening.

Painted Dog Pack At Rest Field Sketch by Alison Nicholls

Painted Dog Pack At Rest Field Sketch by Alison Nicholls

So join me for this fun, informative and inspiring evening!
Alison

Saturday February 20, 2016 from 6-8pm.
Wolf Conservation Center, South Salem.
Registration is required as seating is limited. Price $20 per person.
50% of proceeds will be donated to PDRT and 50% to WCC.

www.ArtInspiredbyAfrica.com

Howling Wolf sketch by Alison Nicholls

Wolf + Sketchbook + Spring = Art Safari!

My next Wolf Sketching Workshop at the Wolf Conservation Center in South Salem will be May 3rd from 9am – 12 noon. Join me and learn how to capture a live wolf in your sketchbook! Any level of sketching experience (or none!) is just fine.

Howling Wolf sketch by Alison Nicholls

Howling Wolf sketch by Alison Nicholls

In addition to sketching several of WCC’s ambassador wolves, you will have a chance to see the critically endangered red wolves and Mexican gray wolves. Please contact me if you have any questions, or use the link below to sign up for the workshop. Spring is finally here, so join me for a wonderful morning watching and sketching wolves!

Atka, the Arctic wolf

Atka, the Arctic wolf

Atka (above), Zephyr, Alawa, Nikai and I, hope to see you there!
Alison

Wolf Conservation Center
Wolf Sketching Safari, May 3, 9am-12noon.
$70 per person. Pre-Registration is Required.

Atka, the Arctic wolf

Join Me To Sketch Wolves!

My next Wolf Sketching Workshop at the Wolf Conservation Center in South Salem will be May 3rd from 9am – 12 noon. Join me and learn how to capture a live wolf in your sketchbook! Any level of sketching experience (or none!) is just fine.

Howling Wolf sketch by Alison Nicholls

Howling Wolf sketch by Alison Nicholls

In addition to sketching several of WCC’s ambassador wolves, you will have a chance to see the critically endangered red wolves and Mexican gray wolves. Please contact me if you have any questions, or use the link below to sign up for the workshop. Spring is finally here, so join me for a wonderful morning watching and sketching wolves!

Atka, the Arctic wolf

Atka, the Arctic wolf

Atka (above), Zephyr, Alawa, Nikai and I, hope to see you there!
Alison

Wolf Conservation Center
Wolf Sketching Safari, May 3, 9am-12noon.
$70 per person. Pre-Registration is Required.

Very, very quick sketch, before the team gets to work. Sketch by Alison Nicholls.

A Frozen Valentine

Given the frigid temperatures in the Eastern United States at the moment, I’m sure there are plenty of frozen valentines to be found, but this post is about a very specific species of valentine…

Earlier this week I was stomping around in the snow with the wolves up at the Wolf Conservation Center. It was a beautiful winter day, cold and sunny. Lovely blue tree shadows crossed the banks of snow and every now and again a wolf could be seen trotting tirelessly in the distance. Eventually 6 male wolves were captured and transported in crates to meet Dr Cheri Asa and Karen Bauman from the Saint Louis Zoo.

The first time I have sketched a wolf's tongue!  Mexican gray wolf by Alison Nicholls.

The first time I have sketched a wolf’s tongue! Mexican gray wolf by Alison Nicholls.

Yes, the time had come for the wolves to give semen samples to be frozen and stored at the St Louis Zoo sperm bank, where they can accessed in the future for breeding purposes or genetic research.

A wolf check-up. Sketch by Alison Nicholls.

A wolf check-up. Sketch by Alison Nicholls.

There were 4 Mexican gray wolves and 2 red wolves. It was a very interesting experience, helping to capture the wolves, watching the vets at work, seeing semen samples under the microscope and sketching while the work was underway.

Very, very quick sketch, before the team gets to work. Sketch by Alison Nicholls.

Very, very quick sketch, before the team gets to work. Sketch by Alison Nicholls.

It was quite difficult sketching the wolves because there were so many people working around the table. So at one point I decided to sketch the team instead of the wolf!

Teamwork. Sketch by Alison Nicholls

Teamwork. Sketch by Alison Nicholls

 Alison Nicholls sketching wolves

Alison Nicholls sketching wolves.

Alison Nicholls sketching wolves.

I have had a terrible time writing this post because all kinds of jokes in very poor taste kept springing from my keyboard! But suffice it to say that the wolves are now back in their wooded enclosures with their mates, loving the frigid temperatures. And a little part of them will be returning to St Louis to help with the conservation of these vital predators!

Happy Valentine’s Day!!

Until next time…
Alison

www.ArtInspiredbyAfrica.com
I make a donation to African conservation from every sale.

Atka the Arctic Wolf studies my Art

Wolf-Approved Art by Alison Nicholls

Atka the Arctic Wolf studies my Art

Atka the Arctic Wolf studies my Art

Last night I and my artwork attended Wine & Wolves, the annual benefit for the Wolf Conservation Center in South Salem. Atka the ambassador Arctic wolf made an appearance and decided my art was worth a closer look!

If you would like to see more of the art that Atka approved of, you can check it out on my website: www.ArtInspiredbyAfrica.com. Don’t forget to take a look at my Seasonal Offers which are available until the end of December.

Learn more about the Wolf Conservation Center.

Until next time…
Alison

Art Inspired by Africa and Conservation
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Art Inspired by Africa

Lake Mist, South Salem New York by Alison Nicholls

Lake Mist, South Salem, New York by Alison Nicholls

On Sunday I was heading up to South Salem to teach a sketching session at the Wolf Conservation Center when I ran into a bank of fog. I couldn’t see a lake I knew was only feet from the road, but I was on the off ramp of an Interstate so I decided it wouldn’t be a good place to pull over. A little further up the road the fog lifted and another lake came into view so I stopped to take this photo, above.

Walking back to my car I looked up and saw that it was one of those mornings when even the power cables are worth a photo – glistening like strands of a rather large cobweb. I wouldn’t like to see the spider that built this!

Cable Lights by Alison Nicholls

Cable Lights by Alison Nicholls

Surrounded by the spectacular colors of fall, I arrived at the Wolf Conservation Center with a big grin on my face. What a way to start the day!

Until next time…
Alison

Art Inspired by Africa and Conservation
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Nicholls Wildlife Art

Kalahari Honey Badgers Field Sketch by Alison Nicholls ©2012

Kalahari Honey Badgers Field Sketch by Alison Nicholls

Honey Badgers have a bit of a reputation. A well-deserved reputation. For being indestructible & fearless. They will take on anything. They eat puff adders!. Need I say more?

One memorable night in Chobe National Park in Botswana we found our campsite surrounded by about a thousand buffalo heading down to the floodplain to drink and graze. The buffalo were passing either side of us as we sat at our campfire and the billowing dust, strong bovine smell and sound of thousands of passing hooves was astounding. In the midst of it all we saw a pair of incredibly long claws under one of the trucks and spotted a honey badger, attempting to chew our tires. Without thinking about the aforementioned reputation of the honey badger, I stood up and shouted at it. Amazingly enough it retreated to take its chances among the buffalo (they probably didn’t thank us for that!). Soon after that we were forced to retreat into our vehicles as the sheer volume of buffalo increased, lost calves ran around bleating and grumpy old bulls stalked through the brush. It was an amazing evening.

But back to the honey badger. If you want to see what kind of character a honey badger can be, watch this video from the BBC about Stoffel, a honey badger reared at the Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre in South Africa.

Enjoy!

Until next time…
Alison

Art Inspired by Africa and Conservation
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Nicholls Wildlife Art

Howling Wolf sketch by Alison Nicholls

Howling Wolf sketch by Alison Nicholls

Recommended for adults and children aged 13+.

Date: May 18, 2014

Time: 9AM-12PM

Fee: $70/person

Join me for a unique workshop at the Wolf Conservation Center in South Salem, New York! We will start the morning with a brief discussion about my Conservation Sketching Expeditions and how I use art to support conservation projects like the Painted Dog Conservation project in Zimbabwe and the African People & Wildlife Fund in Tanzania. I will explain some of the special challenges faced when sketching wildlife in the field and will talk about how to overcome these challenges, whether you are sketching wolves in Yellowstone or elephants in Africa. Then you will be able to try your own hand at sketching WCC’s ambassador wolves! You will also have a chance to see the WCC’s critically endangered Red wolves and Mexican Gray wolves.

The materials listed below are my usual field sketching supplies. They dry easily, can be packed away quickly and (apart from my sketchbook) all fit inside a long pencil case. I do not work from an easel. You are welcome to bring whatever you like, but I highly recommend dry materials like pencils and pens or pastels. You will be doing a lot of short sketches as the wolves will be moving around. The idea is to capture the movement and simple shapes, not to complete a finished painting or drawing.

    • 11×14″ sketchbook with at least 20 sheets.
    • 2 or 3 pencils (HB, 2B, 4B) plus eraser.
    • Sketching pens (black or brown or grey looks great) or pastels or colored pencils.
    • Bulldog clips to hold paper down in case it is windy.
    • (optional) Field box of watercolors, plus small water container plus 2 or 3 brushes of varying sizes.
    • Hat, sunglasses, sunblock, raincoat, waterbottle etc to suit the weather.
    • (optional) If you have them you can also bring binoculars & a folding chair, although these are not essential.
 
Recommended for adults and children aged 13+.

Date: May 18, 2014

Time: 9AM-12PM

Fee: $70/person

I hope to see you there!

Alison

Art Inspired by Africa and Conservation
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Nicholls Wildlife Art

Wolf Conservation Center features Alison Nicholls as Artist of the Month

Wolves Field sketch, Yellowstone National Park by Alison Nicholls

Wolves Field sketch, Yellowstone National Park by Alison Nicholls

For the month of November 2013, I am the Wolf Conservation Center’s (WCC) Artist of the Month. The program is a collaboration between WCC and artists they admire who share their philosophy about the importance of wolves and the protection of their environment. My series of Yellowstone Field Sketches (originals and limited editions), including wolves, are available for  sale and I will donate 30% to WCC from the sale of any of these pieces.

Until the end of 2013 I am also offering free shipping within the lower 48 states of the United States.

See my Yellowstone Sketches.

Learn more about the Wolf Conservation Center.

Until next time…
Alison

Alison Nicholls

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Join my Mailing List
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Nicholls Wildlife Art