Wolf Moon
March 10, 2022So… I’ve recently developed a small obsession with wolves.
I never before felt the calling for a funky jumper with a dreamcatcher and a wolf howling at the moon on it, but, you know, this just might be the time.
It all started with a story I wrote about a heroine lost in a wood. She was being chased and hunted down by a pack of wolves, which spurred some research and the more I found out, the more I wanted to know.
In creative terms, I started filling the ‘pot’ with everything wolves… wherever I looked I saw wolf symbolism, pack dynamics, parallels with us, another highly social, intelligent species, I wrote stuff down and started making sketches.
One day an animal life-drawing class I follow (www.wildlifedrawing.co.uk) sent word of a Wolf life-drawing class, in-person (I had done some great zoom sessions of Hawks and Owls before with them over lockdown). This class was with wolf-dogs, a wolf hybrid very close genetically to wild grey wolves. I jumped at the chance to join the fun, and when the time came, off I went with my art supplies and a big smile.
And I didn’t really stop smiling…the experience was fantastic.
Run in partnership with the Watermill Wolves who brought their beautiful beasts along for us to draw, paint and pet carefully :)
As well as great sitters, who snoozed a fair bit, they are talented animal actors, able to jump up, howl and snarl all for the price of a secretly supplied snack.
I had the pleasure to be sitting close to the handsome ‘James Bond’ who napped in front of me for a good period, giving me a chance for some great drawing time.
When they weren’t relaxing, the wolves were up, playfully pacing their area. Sniffing around, alert and very lean in real life. They were tall, for me their most distinguishing feature from dogs, that and their long nose and distinct mask-like fur colouring on their faces and along the tops of their bodies.
They were calm at times and intensely boisterous at others, and although a lot like dogs they had a more wired, intense energy.
When the session was closing and artists were giving their final pats, I got an unexpected wolf-hug from 007 - I felt very honoured. I like to think it was our deep wild connection that forged our connection and not the five minute belly scratch I’d given him earlier.
In drawing terms, sketching an animal in real life or from a reference photo, gets easier and stronger the better you know your subject. So it helped that I had done research, spent time observing wolves online, in videos or books and also explored that knowledge through my own sketches and writing.
I also find I check back often to what I believe the unique elements of my subjects are. Both in their physical makeup and their psychological identity as far as it relates to us, and most specifically to me. Symbolism, connection and emotional resonance all seem to play a part and I try to incorporate all of this into my work to bring an energy, narrative or sense of character to it.
It’s true that some of this energy, we bring without trying, without realising, it just comes as part of the expression package… but I find understanding the layers of knowledge and attention we bring to the creative process can help to inspire us and allow us to be more expressive and make more exciting work. Accentuating differences, allowing feelings and symbolism around a subject filter into the work, or ensuring dynamic lines are strong and characteristic, are just some examples of the tools of the trade.
A friend mentioned to me that all of my wolf-related energy and endeavour coincided with the time of the wolf moon, a full moon in January traditionally was said to have been a time that the wolves were more likely to howl.
Perhaps then I have just been a little moon-crazed lately. Howling in my own way.
Since the session, I’ve been making other work that feeds off my thoughts and experiences with these beautiful animals, it plays off all the wonderful things about wolves and what they represent to me.
I hope to have some more beautiful work to share with you one of these days, when everything comes together and the time is right.
Perhaps by the next Wolf moon :)
Thank you for reading x
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