There are moments in nature that last only seconds — quiet, delicate moments that most people might never even notice.
This photograph was taken during one of those moments.
For just a few brief seconds, a Citrus Swallowtail butterfly rested long enough for me to capture it. In the bush, butterflies rarely stay still for long.
They drift from flower to flower, constantly moving, always carried by invisible currents of air and instinct. Catching one in a moment of stillness feels almost like nature pausing to take a breath.
Butterflies have always felt like tiny spirits of the wild to me.
They move silently through the bushveld, appearing suddenly in a beam of sunlight before vanishing again just as quickly, as though they were never really there at all. Their presence is fleeting, almost dreamlike, and yet incredibly powerful if you take the time to notice them.
Across many cultures, butterflies are seen as symbols of transformation, hope, and the soul.
They remind us that change is a natural and necessary part of life — that growth often happens quietly and invisibly before revealing itself in something beautiful.
Perhaps that is why moments like this feel so special.
In the wild, nothing waits for us. One small breath of wind, one shift of light, and the butterfly is gone again, carried back into the rhythm of nature.
But every now and then, if you are patient enough… if you slow down and allow the bush to reveal itself… you are given a small glimpse of its magic.
And sometimes, if you’re very lucky, that magic stays just long enough to be captured.
Experimenting with new materials is an important part of growing as an artist. While most of my wildlife sketches are created using graphite and charcoal on paper, I recently decided to try something a little different—working with charcoal on a stretched canvas.
The photo accompanying this post shows the very beginning of a new piece: a cheetah sketch on an A2 stretched canvas. What you’re seeing is about one hour of work. It captures the early stages of the drawing process, where the structure, proportions, and first layers of charcoal begin to take shape.
A New Surface to Work With This was my first time attempting a charcoal wildlife sketch on canvas. Normally I work on paper, which has a very predictable texture and surface for building up layers of graphite and charcoal. Canvas, however, behaves quite differently.
The tooth of the canvas is much more pronounced than most drawing papers, which means the charcoal catches in the weave of the fabric. This creates a slightly rougher texture and changes the way lines and shading develop across the surface. It requires a slightly lighter hand and a different approach to building tonal values.
At the same time, the canvas offers something interesting: a sense of scale and presence that feels closer to a traditional painting surface, even though the medium remains charcoal.
The Subject: A Cheetah For this piece I chose one of Africa’s most iconic predators, the cheetah. Known for its incredible speed and elegant form, the cheetah has always been a fascinating subject to observe and photograph in the wild.
When beginning a wildlife sketch like this, the first stage is always about structure. The initial charcoal marks focus on placing the key features—head position, body proportions, and the distinctive facial markings that make the cheetah instantly recognisable. These early lines are light and exploratory, gradually building towards the more defined forms that will come later in the process.
Capturing the Process The photo shows only a glimpse of that early stage.
Although the finished piece will take many more hours to complete, the first hour is often the most important. It establishes the foundation on which the rest of the drawing will be built.
Stepping Outside the Usual Routine Trying charcoal on canvas is very much an experiment for me. As someone who usually works with graphite and charcoal on paper, exploring a new surface is both challenging and exciting. Each material behaves differently, and learning how charcoal responds to canvas opens up new possibilities for texture, scale, and presentation.
Part of being an artist is continually learning and pushing beyond familiar techniques, and this piece is a small step in that direction.
Follow the Progress This cheetah sketch is still in its early stages, and I look forward to sharing more of the process as the artwork develops. Watching a wildlife drawing evolve from the first rough marks into a finished piece is always a rewarding journey.
If you enjoy seeing behind the scenes of wildlife art, keep an eye on the blog and my social media channels where I regularly share new sketches, works in progress, and wildlife photography from the field.
In the golden light of the savanna, a male and female lion meet in quiet reverence. Their presence is a gentle conversation—strength and tenderness entwined, a fleeting moment where the world holds its breath.
Moments like this are why I love wildlife photography. Out in the wild, every gesture, glance, and subtle interaction tells a story. Capturing these moments is about more than framing a perfect shot—it’s about seeing the narrative unfold and being ready to preserve it.
This encounter happened just as the sun began its descent, casting long shadows and bathing the scene in a warm, golden glow. The male lion’s steady strength contrasted beautifully with the female’s calm attentiveness, creating a moment of balance and connection that I knew had to be captured.
Photography allows me to freeze these fleeting interactions, to share the silent conversations of the wild with others. Every click of the shutter is a chance to tell a story, evoke emotion, and reveal the depth of relationships in the animal kingdom.
Through careful observation, patience, and respect for the environment, these intimate moments can be preserved forever. The lions’ quiet connection reminds me that the savanna is not just a backdrop—it is a stage for life’s most profound interactions.
I’m incredibly proud to share that my artwork Guarded Existence has officially been sold.
What makes this moment even more meaningful is that the piece has been purchased by Emsie Verwey, a dedicated conservationist and managing researcher of a brown hyena project in Namibia. With over a decade spent studying and protecting one of Africa’s most rare and misunderstood carnivores, her work contributes to vital research, conservation strategies, and global awareness of the species.
This opportunity came through the Fine Art Gallery in Swakopmund, where the artwork was originally entered as part of a competition, with proceeds supporting brown hyena conservation. Although the piece was not selected as a finalist, it is incredibly rewarding to see it still reach the right person and serve a greater purpose.
Knowing that this artwork will be appreciated by someone so deeply connected to the species, and that it contributes to conservation efforts, makes this a truly special moment in my journey as an artist.
A heartfelt thank you to Andrew for allowing me to use his photograph as a reference — it makes this milestone even more meaningful.
Graphite pencils, charcoal, fine line markers on paper.
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