Fading Into Silence – An A1 Charcoal Wildlife Artwork Inspired by Africa’s Endangered Wild Dogs

| Tamaryn Slieker

After 25 hours of work, countless layers of charcoal, and many moments of stepping back to reconsider the composition, Fading Into Silence is finally complete.


This A1 charcoal-on-canvas artwork was inspired by one of Africa’s most remarkable and endangered predators: the African wild dog.


Wild dogs are often overlooked when people think of Africa’s iconic wildlife. Lions, leopards and elephants tend to capture most of the attention, yet wild dogs are among the continent’s most successful hunters and one of its most threatened carnivores. With populations continuing to decline due to habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, disease, and fragmentation of wild spaces, their disappearance is often gradual and easy to miss.


That quiet disappearance became the inspiration behind this piece.


The Meaning Behind the Artwork


At first glance, the artwork appears to be a portrait of a single wild dog standing alert and watchful.


Look a little longer, however, and faint forms begin to emerge from the background.


Three ghost-like wild dogs linger behind the main subject, slowly fading into the surrounding space.

These figures represent the gradual loss of a species that once occupied much larger areas of Africa. They are not intended to be dramatic or confrontational. Instead, they reflect something quieter—the absence left behind when wildlife populations decline.


The title, Fading Into Silence, refers not only to the disappearance of individual animals but also to the gradual loss of presence. Many species do not vanish suddenly. They simply become less common, less visible, and eventually absent from places where they once belonged.


The artwork serves as a reminder to appreciate and protect what still remains before that silence becomes permanent.


Working with Charcoal on Canvas


This piece was created entirely in charcoal on canvas, a medium I have grown to love for its ability to capture both strength and subtlety.


Charcoal allows me to build rich dark values while also creating delicate transitions and atmospheric effects. Throughout the process, the main wild dog was developed through multiple layers, gradually refining the fur texture, facial features, and expression.


One of my favourite aspects of working with charcoal is the balance between adding and removing material. Much of the detail is created through a process of layering charcoal and then lifting highlights back out, allowing light to emerge from the darkness. This technique creates depth and softness that feels particularly suited to wildlife subjects.


The ghost dogs were intentionally kept subtle. Rather than rendering them with the same level of detail as the main subject, they were allowed to dissolve into the surrounding space, creating an impression rather than a fully defined form.


The Process


This artwork took approximately 25 hours to complete.


As with many of my wildlife pieces, the process began by establishing the major shapes and values before gradually refining smaller details.

The ears, eyes and facial structure became the primary focus early on, while the fur was developed through countless individual marks and layers.


Throughout the creation of the piece, I made a conscious effort to preserve the large areas of negative space surrounding the subject. Leaving sections of the canvas untouched allows the viewer’s attention to remain on the wild dog while also reinforcing the feeling of isolation and absence that inspired the artwork.


Sometimes what is left out of an artwork can be just as important as what is included.


Conservation Through Art


Wildlife art has always been more than simply creating realistic animal portraits for me.


Every species has a story, and I believe art can play an important role in helping people connect with wildlife on a deeper level. By creating artwork inspired by Africa’s incredible animals, I hope to encourage appreciation, curiosity, and ultimately conservation.


The African wild dog is a species that deserves far more attention than it receives. Intelligent, social, and incredibly efficient hunters, they are a vital part of the ecosystems they inhabit. Their future depends on continued conservation efforts and the protection of the landscapes they call home.


If this artwork encourages even one person to learn more about wild dogs and the challenges they face, then it has achieved something beyond the canvas itself.


Artwork Details


Title: Fading Into Silence
Medium: Charcoal on Canvas
Size: A1
Time Spent: 25 Hours


Thank you for following the journey of this artwork from the first charcoal marks through to the finished piece. Sharing the process has been every bit as rewarding as creating the artwork itself, and I look forward to sharing the next wildlife piece with you soon.

13 Hours In – Bringing an African Wild Dog to Life in Charcoal on Canvas

| Tamaryn Slieker


There is something captivating about African Wild Dogs. Their alert ears, intelligent eyes, and beautifully unique markings make them one of Africa’s most striking predators. They are also one of the continent’s most endangered species, which makes spending time studying and sketching them feel even more meaningful.


This A1 charcoal on canvas portrait has now reached the 13-hour mark, and I thought it would be a good time to share a look behind the scenes at the journey so far.


From the very beginning, my goal wasn’t simply to create a realistic likeness of a wild dog. I wanted to capture that unmistakable expression they carry — a combination of curiosity, intelligence, awareness, and quiet intensity. The eyes were always going to be the focal point of the piece, so they were among the first areas I developed in detail.


Working with charcoal on canvas presents its own challenges. Unlike paper, the canvas weave remains visible throughout much of the process, requiring countless layers and carefully placed marks to create the illusion of soft fur while still allowing the texture of the surface to contribute to the character of the artwork. Every individual hair has been built gradually, layer by layer, rather than rushed.


The progression from the early stages to where the sketch stands now has been incredibly rewarding. What began as a few carefully placed eyes and a nose slowly evolved into the distinctive facial markings, then the ears, and finally the deeper shadows that define the structure of the head and neck. Each session adds another level of depth and realism.


One of my favourite areas to work on has been the ears. African Wild Dogs have such expressive ears, and they play a huge role in the animal’s character. Building the layers of fur, subtle tonal shifts, and soft highlights within those large ears took patience, but they have become one of the strongest features of the piece.


The eyes have also continued to develop throughout the process. I often revisit them repeatedly, refining reflections, contrast, and tiny details until they begin to feel alive. For me, wildlife art is often won or lost in the eyes. If they don’t hold a sense of life and personality, the portrait never truly connects with the viewer.


As the darker areas of the muzzle and neck emerged, the portrait started gaining much more presence. These rich charcoal blacks help frame the lighter fur and create the dramatic contrast that makes African Wild Dogs so visually striking. Establishing these values correctly is essential because they create the foundation upon which all the finer fur details sit.


At this stage, the portrait is still very much a work in progress. There is plenty of refinement ahead, particularly in the neck, chest, transitions between fur patterns, and subtle tonal adjustments throughout the face. Wildlife portraits often reach a point where they appear nearly finished from a distance, yet still require many additional hours of careful observation and detail work.


What I enjoy most about this process is watching the animal slowly emerge from a blank white canvas. Each layer of charcoal reveals a little more personality, a little more character, and a little more of the spirit that first inspired me to choose the subject.


Thirteen hours in, this African Wild Dog is beginning to look back at me from the canvas, and I’m excited to continue pushing the details further in the coming sessions.


Thank you to everyone following along with the progress. Your support, encouragement, and appreciation for wildlife art make these long hours at the easel incredibly worthwhile.


I look forward to sharing the next stage of the journey as this portrait continues to develop.


Charcoal on canvas • A1 size • 13 hours completed and still growing. 🐾

Meet the Artist

| Tamaryn Slieker

Behind the Sketch



For me, wildlife art has never simply been about creating a realistic portrait of an animal. It’s about telling the story behind the eyes, the scars, the silence, and the spaces these animals fight to survive in every single day.



My name is Tamaryn “Tammy” Slieker — safari guide, wildlife artist, and conservation storyteller.



I’ve spent years working in the African bush as both a field guide and safari consultant, learning not only how animals move and behave, but how deeply connected every sound, track, and interaction in nature truly is. Over time, that understanding slowly found its way into my artwork.



I specialise in charcoal wildlife sketches, focusing on monochromatic pieces that highlight emotion, texture, light, and presence. Through my art, I aim to create more than just a drawing — I want people to pause, feel something, and reconnect with the wild in a more personal way.



Many of the species I’m drawn to are the misunderstood or overlooked ones. Predators. Scavengers. Quiet survivors.



One of my recent pieces, Guarded Existence, a charcoal portrait of a brown hyena, was sold through The Fine Art Gallery Namibia to renowned brown hyena conservation researcher Emsie Verwey, whose work on Namibia’s Skeleton Coast has helped bring greater awareness to one of Africa’s most elusive carnivores.



That moment reminded me exactly why I create.



Every sketch is a conversation between art and conservation — a way of preserving emotion, raising awareness, and honouring the wildness that still exists around us.



This is where I’ll share those stories, the process behind the artwork, the inspiration from the bush, and the animals that continue to shape both my art and my life.

Layers of Life

| Tamaryn Slieker

There’s something both exciting and intimidating about starting a completely new piece — especially on an A1 stretched canvas where every mark feels permanent.


Tonight I started this charcoal artwork, and after just over an hour of work, the first signs of personality are finally beginning to emerge. The eyes are usually the moment everything changes for me; suddenly it stops looking like lines and shading, and starts feeling alive.


I love this stage of the process because it’s messy, soft, and uncertain. Nothing is fully defined yet. The fur is still only suggested, the structure is still developing, and there’s a long road ahead before the final details and contrast come in. But honestly, that’s part of the magic.


Working with charcoal has always felt incredibly raw and expressive to me. It forces you to build depth slowly, layer by layer, while still allowing softness and movement that I struggle to achieve with other mediums. On canvas especially, the texture creates such an interesting challenge — every stroke behaves differently.


I’m really excited to see where this one goes over the next few sessions. For now, here’s a little glimpse into the beginning of the journey.

Echoes of the Plains

| Tamaryn Slieker


There is a certain stillness that exists on the African plains just before movement—before the chase, before the wind shifts, before life reveals itself in motion. It is within that quiet that this piece was born.


Echoes of the Plains is a charcoal portrait capturing an intimate, almost suspended moment with one of Africa’s most iconic yet increasingly vulnerable predators: the cheetah. Known as the fastest land animal on Earth, the cheetah is often defined by speed, power, and precision. But here, I wanted to pause that narrative—to strip away the motion and sit instead with presence.


This artwork was inspired by a reference photograph captured by Mario Paul of Wild Photo Africa, whose work in the field continues to bring viewers closer to the raw, unfiltered beauty of African wildlife.


In this portrait, the cheetah is still. Watchful. Grounded.


There is a quiet intelligence in its gaze, something deeply aware and connected to its surroundings. It is a reminder that these animals are not just fleeting streaks across the savannah—they are sentient, perceptive beings, woven into the rhythm of the land itself.


A Fragile Existence


While the cheetah remains a symbol of wild freedom, its reality tells a more sobering story.


Once roaming widely across vast, open landscapes, cheetah populations have dramatically declined. Today, they face a convergence of challenges: habitat loss as wild land is transformed, increasing human–wildlife conflict, diminishing prey availability, and the fragmentation of ecosystems that once allowed them to move freely.


Unlike many other large predators, cheetahs rely heavily on space. They need room—not just to hunt, but to survive without constant competition and threat. As these spaces shrink, so too does their ability to endure.


This piece is, in part, a reflection of that tension—the contrast between the calm strength we see, and the vulnerability that lies beneath it.


The Process Behind the Piece


Created using charcoal on stretched canvas, this artwork took approximately 15 hours to complete. Charcoal, as a medium, felt instinctively right for this subject.


There is something raw and honest about charcoal—the way it moves, the way it resists perfection. It allows for softness and intensity to coexist, for shadows to carry weight and light to emerge with quiet strength. On canvas, it brings an added dimension: the subtle texture beneath the strokes becomes part of the story itself.


Each mark was intentional, building depth layer by layer. The focus was not only on anatomical accuracy, but on capturing expression—the quiet tension held within the eyes, the softness of the fur, and the underlying stillness that gives the portrait its sense of presence.


In the close-up images, the raw texture of the canvas becomes more visible—each grain catching the charcoal differently, adding an organic, almost tactile dimension to the piece.


More Than Speed


Cheetahs are so often reduced to a single idea: speed.


But speed is only one chapter of their story.
They are mothers raising cubs in unforgiving conditions. They are hunters navigating landscapes that are constantly changing. They are survivors, adapting in ways that often go unseen.


This artwork is an invitation to look beyond the obvious—to sit with the quieter aspects of their existence. To recognize the individuality, the presence, and the quiet resilience that defines them.


A Reflection


Echoes of the Plains speaks to both beauty and fragility.


It is about what still exists, and what is at risk of being lost.


The title itself carries that duality—the idea of something vast and alive, yet also something that could one day fade into memory if not protected.

The cheetah’s presence on the plains is not guaranteed. It is something that depends on awareness, conservation, and a continued respect for the natural world.


Final Thoughts


As an artist and someone deeply connected to wildlife, this piece holds a personal weight.


It is not just about creating something visually compelling—it is about storytelling, connection, and preserving a moment that asks the viewer to pause. To feel. To reflect.


Because sometimes, the most powerful thing we can do is simply to notice.


And in noticing, to care.


May these echoes never fall silent.


Artwork Details
A2 Size
Charcoal on stretched canvas
Approx. 15 hours of work

Whisper of the Wild

| Tamaryn Slieker

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.

First Lines in Charcoal:

| Tamaryn Slieker

My First Wildlife Sketch on Canvas

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.

Whispers of the Savanna

| Tamaryn Slieker

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.

Canon Powershot SX70HS

f/5.6

1/1600s

ISO 200

No flash

Guarded Existence – SOLD!

| Tamaryn Slieker

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.