The grand finale to our lectures at the zoo was a visit to their old library.
Thousands of leather-bound books each containing a wealth of information about the Flora and Fauna of our world.
One particular book was unique, only one copy ever made by a dedicated enthusiast, filled to the brim with delicately hand-painted examples of shells, the detail of which was truly awe inspiring. It is breathtaking to be able to leaf through such a thing and touch the paper with your own bare hands.
Other books had used paints which greasiness showed through on the back of each page. Lovely detail which few people ever get to see. Luckily for you we were allowed to take photographs as long as the flash was off…

There’s never any space to work at… though I must admit I’m happiest working on the very edge of the dining table anyway, so you don’t hear me complaining.

I planted heaps of bulbs last winter, from which I now reap the rewards.
Picked fresh from the garden, these flowers smell incredible indoors!

We are nearing peak bulbseason!

Notes and sketches from lectures and real live animals at the zoo.

Crickey, it’s been an awfully long time since I participated in Illustration Friday…
How nice to be back in the fray!
The word this week was ‘rescue’.

I’m doing it myself…
though not without the odd mishap.