Barbara Philip

Tag: warthogs

  • For the Love of Fragrant Roses

    For the Love of Fragrant Roses

    It is a strange coincidence that this post links to the previous one about warthogs. Last Saturday we had just turned on our recently re-erected electric fence around my rose garden when 4 warthogs came into the garden. I had finished pruning, and wanted to protect the new spring shoots on the roses. We have duiker and steenbuck that enjoy eating the roses.

    warthogs at the rose garden
    Warthogs baffled by the electric fence!

    The warthogs were most frustrated by the electric fence, and tried in vain to find a way in to the roses. It was most amusing and a great relief that the fence served its intended purpose.

    “But he that dares not grasp the thorn should never crave the rose.” -Anne Bronte

    At the time of pruning I was also painting roses, from the many photographs taken over the past couple of years. It was the first time I have painted an oil of these roses. The previous oil which was painted in 2004; when we renovated our kitchen, was painted from old roses in books. It hangs over the hearth in the kitchen, and is not for sale.

    My Kitchen Roses oil painting, 2004
    My Kitchen Roses oil painting, 2004

    “Beauty without virtue is like a rose without scent.” (more…)

  • ‘Tails Up’ & The Silvermere Warthogs

    ‘Tails Up’ & The Silvermere Warthogs

    This post is about optimism and waiting on God’s perfect timing. The Israelites had to wait 40 years to enter the Promised Land, and I have had to wait many years, not so many by comparison , to capture on camera, warthogs running with their tails up. A friend once asked for a painting of warthogs running with their tails up, and I have failed to find any such suitable photographs. I do not like to paint from guesswork, being rather particular about anatomical accuracy. But ever since a family of warthogs have settled on Silvermere my chances have increased dramatically.  Well,  the wait has finally paid off.   However as often happens, one seldom has the camera when sighting the warthogs. Earlier this year though, John Oliver(with camera) and his Dad were walking at Excelsior, the top part of our farm; when they saw the warthogs, and managed to capture them running off. These action photos though blurred, were then enhanced slightly thanks to Photoshop, and these two sketches were the result.

    Warthogs. (560 x 250 mm. Pencil and wash sketch, on unstretched watercolour paper.)
    Warthogs. (560 x 250 mm. Pencil and wash sketch, on unstretched watercolour paper.)
    Warthogs.(560 x 250 mm. Pencil and wash sketch, on unstretched watercolour paper.)
    Warthogs.(560 x 250 mm. Pen and wash sketch, on unstretched watercolour paper.)

    These sketches sparked my interest and two more paintings followed. (more…)