Giraffe with young. by Ruth Dolan

Many years ago, I used to stay in my uncle and aunt's house in the grounds of Bristol Zoo, where he was a keeper. I was always touched by the gentleness of the giraffes; it later occurred to me just how awful it was to see them behind old Victorian railings, browsing on straw laid on concrete, but that's another story. You've captured that gentleness in this picture; I don't think I'd add a leafy background - might just put a colour wash around them, and let the two animals carry the picture on their own. Lovely creatures, sympathetically painted.

Ruth I agree with Robert leave your painting as it is, it is such an endearing composition. Nothing should detract from the warmth and love that you have captured.

Thank you so very much, Pam and Robert. I do appreciate your input, and I think you are both quite right re the background , I don't want it to take over...I will think about the colour wash, Robert, and maybe put in a soft blue/green wash, or not ?

PS; Robert...I've just posted a children's story illustration of a giraffe on the site....You lucky man, having a Bristol Zoo keeper for an uncle, that must have been a wonderful experience! And all the wild animals you must have seen at close quarters too! I used to take groups of 6 year olds round Chester Zoo every year, and that was quite an experience...in particular the 'rude' monkeys were very popular! and one never quite knew how to deal with the interest generated by them...!!! Happy days.

Lovely gentle, soft work

Colour wash - soft blue/green would work, I think; softer the better. Zoo - ah, the monkeys! A huge male mandrill (kind of baboon with multi-coloured face) took a fancy to my mother and showed it in the usual way. I struck up a meaningful relationship with a gigantic, lone American bison named Ferdinand; somewhere is a photo of me standing at the bars, with Ferdinand and me gazing rapturously eye to eye. I say "huge" and "gigantic" - well, they were pretty big, but I was very small in those days.

Lovely gentle painting Ruth. I wouldn't do foliage but would do soft washes. When I did the two giraffes I used similar colours to the animals; have a look http://www.painters-online.co.uk/gallery/picture.asp?id=14621

Thanks, Diana...will do. I remembered seeing a giraffe painting by yourself, but failed to trace it..so here goes...

Thanks, Robert...Oh those back-turned orang -utangs! Quite an education in themselves! Sight for sore eyes, as my old mum would have said! And not to mention the strategic scratching...oh it was so funny...used to have to hurry the kids on to the polar bear compound to cool them down a bit! Take a look at my poor old 'Scruffy buffalo' in my 'Young at heart' portfolio..I missed out the verse, I think, but it goes.......' My friend Bernard is a very scruffy buffalo. His shoes are always dirty and his hair is like a nest. Do you wonder why I love such a very scruffy buffalo? Well, of all the scruffy buffaloes Bernard is the best!'

Bless you, Carole, for your lovely comment.

I love this picture, its very well done. A mothers' love for her baby.

Sorry Ruth - I thought I had made a comment on this one. I love it! So sensitive. Well done.

Beautiful expression and composition, like this as it is. Many thanks for your kind comment on my painting.

What a lovely composition really touching.

what a lovely composition.

Hi Ruth, I wouldn't put too much in the background of this one, sometimes less is more as they say. Perhaps just a very very pale wash of Raw Sienna to make their coats stand out.

I love this, Mum and baby are just delightful. The colour is excellent.