Giraffe Portrait

Greetings Card (FSC Board)
Size: 175mm x 125mm
Card blank inside
Free P + P

Original Painting Medium: Oil on canvas
Scientific Name: Giraffa camelopardalis
Region: Africa

As giraffes can reach a height of 15-18ft we rarely have the opportunity to see one face to face. I wanted to portray this chap as he towered above the bushes with his curious watchful expression.  Andrew Watts kindly provided the photographic reference and my Giraffe painting is an oil painting on canvas.

Majestic and leisurely in movement, the long-legged giraffe lives in the African savannah, south of the Sahara. Giraffes prefer dry open country covered with bush and occasionally will venture into areas lightly wooded with acacia trees. This giraffe was photographed in the Moremi Game Reserve which occupies part of the Okavango Delta, Botswana. Moremi was the first wildlife sanctuary created by an African tribe, namely the BaTawana, in 1963. As there is little poaching, the game is very relaxed in the presence of people, and continue going about their business whilst you quietly look on.

Giraffes have exceptionally long necks and although their necks are very long: they only have 7 vertebrae, just like humans! They also have a keen sense of hearing and sight. The giraffe has the advantage of being able to scan the widest area in order to spot hidden predators.

These graceful creatures have found a niche in which they can live quite contentedly. Using a long flexible prehensile tongue giraffes eat the nutritious leaves at the tops of the trees. With well-developed mobile lips, they tear off the twigs, fruit, and the prickliest shoots without having to compete with other herbivores.  I loved the expression on this giraffe’s face as he munched his meal.