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

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...

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 Journal/Sketchbook entry;  7/25/2012 "Once again I have found another instance of serendipity while planning for my Africa trip -- A trip that almost didn't happen...” While planning and preparing for my Africa trip I have had several incidents of serendipity which led me today to looking up the word and also its origin. Serendipity means: An aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident; good fortune;  luck.”  There have been many incidents that have happened that led me to believe that I would not be going, in fact for about 3 weeks I had officially made the decision that I wasn't going. Thankfully I have had several moments of serendipity that have turned everything around. Serendipity simply means “happy accident” and was first noted by Horace Walpole (1717-1797) who said he formed the word from the Persian Fairy tale “ The Three Princes of Serendip ” The Princes of Serendip is the English version of an Italian version by Michele Tramezzi...

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...