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

"Three Princes (African Elephant)" Oil on 1/2" prepared maple 36 x 48 The painting, “Three Princes (African Elephant),” is the first painting that I actually searched for in the field. The idea and inspiration for this piece came from what I believed at the time to be the loss of the opportunity to travel to Tanzania, Africa, for the first time in 2012 -- a loss that was soon corrected by what I perceived as serendipity. In order to get to Tanzania, I was attempting to presell paintings and/or drawings to my collectors, which when you think about it, you are asking someone to purchase something sight unseen. The deadline was fast approaching for me to put down the deposit for my trip and I hadn’t received any bites on my advance purchase promotions. I had come to the decision in my head that my trip would not happen. At the time that I was making this choice and getting ready to end the promotion, I was working on a drawing of an African elephant from re...

WIP - "Three Princes" Oil Painting, 24 x 36 Painting notes: I happily started back to work on my painting of the three bull elephants today! This painting has been composed and on the panel for several months now, mocking me from the corner of my studio - not anymore! This was actually the first piece that I composed when I got back from my Tanzania 2012 adventure and it was inspired by several events that lead up to my securing that adventure. So when I went to Tanzania I had this painting in mind and was extremely pleased to have captured the needed reference for this painting on the very last  day as I literally was driving out of the Tarangire gate. Currently the painting is in the under drawing stage, this is where I completely draw in the composition establishing all of my values of the finished piece, I will cover this with color. I find myself looking for a quicker way to get this stage done especially since it is a large pi...

Adventure in Tanzania, Africa 2013 Part 2 Among a pride of nine Lions Field sketch from Tarangire NP, Tanzania 2013 I went to Tanzania with a goal, more really of a high hope, that I would get a chance to see big cats. I say this because when you go on safari  you need to be happy with whatever Africa will give you, even if its your 207th zebra.   Africa... Africa was very generous this last trip! On October 14, 2013, which was day 3 of my 2013 safari, we were on the east side of Silale Swamp on a park road that isn't heavily traveled. To be honest I wasn't expecting much from this drive because many of the previous trips down this particular road in 2012 didn't offer up much. But as I said previously… Africa was very generous this trip. We had eaten our bush breakfast on the side of the hill that leads down into Silale Swamp about 9:30 in the morning and were making our way south down the road to the bottom of the swamp to cross over and go back up the ...

Adventure in Tanzania 2013! Part 1 Map Source Google Maps It has been two weeks now since my return from Tanzania and I am still processing  all that I saw, felt, touched and yes smelled. I took 15,964 photos while on safari this time and it will take me some time to go through all of them to organize and revisit the memories of the actual events. Such great moments from seeing hippos in Silale swamp, apparently this is the first time in 13 years, to a great big bull elephant , that we got extremely close to and our surprise visit to Ngorongoro Crater. Hippo in Silale swamp, Tarangire NP, Tanzania I had the privilege of spending 13 days in Tanzania with eight world class artists and what a great time it was to spend every moment with like minded individuals. We were up every morning at 5:00am, in the Land Cruisers at 5:45 and at the park gate promptly at 6:00 am when they opened. From there we went ALL day most of the time note returning back to camp until after dark...

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.

To a friend who loves cats! I had the honor and privilege last night to have dinner with a collector of my art who is also a very dear friend and present her with this field sketch from Africa. She was caught completely off guard because she had no idea that she was getting the sketch. I thought it was the least I could do since she has supported me over these many years not just with adding a few of my pieces to her collection but by telling me again and again that my work was good enough even when I thought different. This sketch was drawn in my tent the second night after I had the great fortune to have seen two female lions just on the rim of Silale swamp  which doesn't really look like a swamp. After another great day of game drives, a fantastic sunset by the fire pit with a glass of wine at Kikoti Camp and a superb dinner I went back to my tent to do a little sketching. The funny part about this little story was that I was awoken early in the morning, 4:30am, by a very...

Robert's Research & Reference trip to Tanzania, Africa September 24 – October 6, 2012     2011 marked the end of my first ten years as a professional “working” artist, and 2012 starts the next chapter of my career. Ten years ago when I decided to make the leap as a full-time artist, I knew I wanted to go to Africa. This year, I’m going.  You have watched my career and art develop over the past decade and maybe you even have one of my paintings, drawings or prints hanging on your wall. Let me tell you that it is the most humbling experience for me to walk into your home and see one of my creations hanging on your wall. I hear compliments from admirers of my work often but the greatest compliment that an artist can ever receive isn’t one that is voiced; it’s when you take the painting home. I would like you to join me in kicking off the second decade of my career as an artist. I would like to include...