In the studio with artist, photographer and instructor Robert Louis Caldwell

November 7, 2012 Two lions spotted at Silale Tarangire National Park, Tanzania, Africa Field Sketch Another field sketch drawn while in Africa, I delivered this to one of my collectors just a few weeks ago. I drew this little sketch back in my tent the night after we had the fortune of seeing two female lions on the edge of Silale swamp which doesn't look like a swamp. This sketch was the "warm up" for my drawing "Margin (Lion)" (I'll post about this drawing later). The collector who received this was extremely gracious enough to lend me his very nice camera body for my adventure in Africa, I asked him what I could give him in return and he said a lion. Well I of course couldn't bring a lion home but I could create a sketch of what I saw, two magnificent lions in the tall grasses of Africa. My collector was pleasantly surprised and asked if he could lend me his camera for my next adventure.

A Collector's sketch... "Zebras at Kikoti Watering Hole" Graphite Pencil on Arches 300# Watercolor paper 4 x 6 This is one of the sketches that I did while I was in Africa for a collector who commissioned a painting from me on my return. Each collector who commissioned a painting or drawing based on my adventure receives a sketch that was drawn while I was in Africa. As the title suggests these are Zebra's that I had the fortune of seeing just outside of Kikoti camp at the watering hole. As we came out of camp in the Land Cruiser we saw flashes of black & white over by the watering hole and stopped to see what we could see. In the hour that we stayed there we must have witnessed over 300 Zebras come and go from this watering hole, just amazing!

What, where and when... RL Caldwell Studio Newsletter Fall 2012 My studio newsletter went out this morning to inboxes everywhere and in cased you haven't signed up for my studio newsletter yet, then you can see it by clicking on the link below. This issue covers my exhibition in Dallas and my travels to Africa as well as the up coming events this winter and spring. I hope you enjoy it! RL Caldwell Studio Fall 2012 Newsletter      

My adventure in Africa 2012 Excerpts from my field sketchbook/journal     Day 4 (Day 3 in Tarangire) "5:16am -- Heard a Lion roar last night around 2:30am --- NOT too far from my tent?" Day four started off very early although I don't think I ever fell completely back to sleep after being awoken at 2:30 in the morning of  a loud running sound accompanied with very dramatic rustling and ending with the roar of what I believed to be a lion.  A fast field sketch of a Crowned Lapwing (Plover). Drawn in Africa, Tarangire National Park, Tanzania, Africa We explored the west side of the Silale swamp in the morning looking for Leapoards, Lions and Cheetahs, sadly we did not see any but saw plenty of other wildlife. We stopped mid morning at the Silale Pinic area for a pinic breakfast which was great but the landscape was just incredible. After breakfast we did another slow game drive back to Kikoti camp where we had lunch, some much needed down time...

My adventure in Africa 2012 Excerpts from my field sketchbook/journal The amazing sky and open Silale Swamp Day3 "6:02 am -- I am trying to find the words to describe what I have awoken too... I should have known that it was morning even before I opened my eyes because of all the birds singing. There was a slight haze that is burning off very fast and from the porch of my tent I can see out across the African Savannah  The sun is just starting to come up & hit the under belly of the clouds --- Beautiful! Two Go-Away-Birds just flew by..." "I haven't even been here a day and I am already realizing how much I am going to miss this." That is from the entry of my first morning waking up in the bush, arriving late the night prior I had no idea what the camp or surrounding area looked like and was happily surprised to find myself in this  Eden . Field sketch of a male Impala. Drawn while in Africa "9:23 pm -- WHAT A DAY! Saw so many d...

My adventure in Africa 2012! Excerpts from my field sketchbook/journal. Day1 As soon as I stepped of the plane and onto the tarmac I could smell the difference... Arrived in Kilimanjaro airport in the middle of a thunderstorm, I have to tell you that I wasn't expecting that at all. A very small airport it didn't take very long to pick up my luggage and make my way out to the lobby where my guide and owner of OEA Safari Humphrey was waiting for me. Humphrey drove me through the pouring rain down in a complete blacked out landscape through the out skirts of Arusha where we ended up at his and his lovely wife's guest house. After some light snacks and a couple of glasses of a great South African Piontage I went to the guest house and called "it quits as I listen to the rain beat down in Africa... IN AFRICA!!!" Day 2 "Woke to the sound of pounding rain - Awesome!"  After a fantastic breakfast of fresh fruit, eggs and bacon and I have to tel...

Deadline extended!  10.15.2012  "Striped Horse (Zebra)"  Graphite pencil on Arches 300# watercolor paper  6 x 10  Every day brings my departure to Africa closer... I would like to thank everyone for their enthusiasm about my trip to Tanzania . Your emails of encouragement, suggestions of what to bring, and phone calls reminding me that I don't need to be able to run fast, just faster than everyone else have been greatly appreciated! My Advance purchase agreement of an original from my African adventure has been greeted with so much interest that I have extended the deadline to October 15, 2012. I have also included in this special purchase three drawings of African subjects that I currently have in my studio which you can add to your collection now. These three drawings are "Serendipity (African Elephant)," "Striped Horse (Zebra)," and "Contemplation (Chimpanzee)." These three drawings fall under the Level 2 discoun...

Presenting... “Serendipity (African Elephant) " Graphite pencil on watercolor paper 7 x 10 Fresh off the drafting table and inspired by my recent studies of African Elephants coupled with a few incidents of serendipity that have happened recently I present my newest drawing “Serendipity (African Elephant) .” You can see from my last posting, “60 gallons of water a day!” that I have been studying Elephants preparing myself for my upcoming trip to Africa and from the posting before that, “Serendipity and the 3 Princes,” I wrote about my recent encounters with serendipity. It was these two events that inspired me to draw my newest drawing and title it “Serendipity.” In my previous post, “Serendipity and the 3 Princes,” I wrote that I hope to find three young bull elephants while in Africa and compose a painting based on this story. Until then this drawing will have fill that desire. “Serendipity (African Elephant)” will be on exhibit at the upcoming group show with t...

Africa 2012 Journal/Sketchbook Entry: 7/19/2012 "The first animal on my list to study is the Elephant! This is one of my favorite mammals and it is such a magnificent animal." Africa 2012 sketchbook/journal entry 7/19/2012 In the hopes of being completely prepared for Africa I am working on studying a list of mammals and birds that I will most likely see while in Tarangire Park, Tanzania, Africa. Many of you may think that birds are my favorite animals and although they do hold a special interest to me alas they are not my favorite. Elephants, now that is a beautiful animal! They are the largest land mammal with males weighing up to 13,200 lbs standing 11’ tall and ears that can be 6.5’ x 5’, just incredible! They can drink up to 60 gallons of water a day, 26 gallons at once. They have an ambling walk and move from 3.7 miles per hour to 8 miles per hour and when charging up to 25 miles per hour, that is amazing. Stay out of their way! This is all incredible but I...

Africa 2012 Journal/Sketchbook Entry: 7/11/2012 "Today I received my passport! This is basically my green light to offically move forward with all plans. Booking the flight and paying for the Safari. What a major weight off of my shoulders." Well it has officially begun, Africa 2012 ! With today's mail came a highly enticapted delivery... My passport! This was the missing piece of the puzzle that I have been scrambling to fit into place. This posting also marks what will be the first of many that will document my journey to Africa. There is a lot more than just buying tickets and jumping on a plane. Proper planning and prep work will go far on a research trip like this. Although it may seem like this is an exotic vacation, it is not. The several months leading up to my departure will be filled with intense studying of the wildlife that I am likely to encounter. Things like animal behavior, their markings for proper identification, when and were to observe the...