Drawing and sketching at the Cincinnati Zoo

…continued from yesterday’s post on Lorakeet Landing and zoo camp at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens.
At zoo camp, each camper gets a sketchbook! Matty and Maria have participated in zoo camp over the past three summers and “the sketchbook” has been a big part of Matty’s enjoyment each year. In his words,

“When you sketch or draw an animal, you remember it better. Now I have a record of my zoo camp for the past three years, and I remember what it was like when I was drawing the animals.”

Sometimes we will pull out the old sketchbooks and look them over, and Matty tells me all about the animals, but this year’s sketchbook was a little “sketchy.” In the past, the teachers let the kids linger at each exhibit so they had plenty of time to draw and write about what they were seeing, but this year, the teacher wasn’t quite as contemplative, so there were holes where animal sketches should have been. No prob…we headed down yesterday to plug those holes.

The White Tiger was very cooperative and lazed in a perfect pose!

The Margay was a very interesting cat. He had 

the biggest, buggiest eyes we'd ever seen on 

a cat...very helpful for a nocturnal animal! 

The kids did a lot with the Manatees. 

They really enjoyed working with them. 

Matty had 42 sketches total. These are just a few. Way to go Matty!!!

Sketchbooks are fun because you can write in them too, describing the weather, what the animal was doing, how you were feeling…whatever! It’s also hard. Sketching plein air is challenging because usually the animal doesn’t stay in one position, but it’s fun to draw so fast you capture one moment in time. You’re not worrying about perfection when you’re sketching. It’s more about the process and the connection with the animal as you draw him. One hundred percent of your focus is on that animal…his fur, the shape of the eyes, the thickness of the chin, and as you put time into studying the animal, your appreciation grows…feelings deepen…and it changes the way you see the animal. So, if you haven’t tried it, grab a sketchbook and a pencil and head outside and draw from life. No one has to see your drawings…just move the pencil around and write about what you’re seeing. You will be surprised at what happens!

I enjoyed sketching the Serval. We were very close 

to him but had to move fast as he was waking up! 

The White Tiger was gorgeous and so 

polite. He waited until we were finished 

sketching before moving his position! 

I draw birds all the time outside, but usually there are no people around. Dealing with a crowd can be challenging. Matty and I both found it's hard at first with people bustling around, but once you lose yourself in the animal, the people fade away. It's very good practice, and sketching really does enhance your visit. Instead of running around trying to see everything, you have to slow down and take your time studying the animals. It was the first time I ever sketched on location at the zoo. I'll definitely do it again.