NarshiOriginals
public awareness pieces
In the name of Conservation
Photographed by Tanya Narshi
moonlight stroll
16" x 20"
Created with acrylic on canvas card.
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Illegal Ivory Trade
The Help
The prodigy painting that started what was to become NarshiOriginals. With this piece, I set out to produce a style and use a technique I had previously not used. I wanted to be more bold with my brush strokes and layer up the colours to produce a bulging effect. This can be seen by the style of the moon and the build-up of clouds. Then to contrast against the background I originally decided to paint silhouettes of the elephant family but realised once this was done that highlights would look effective and provide a little of the needed detail, to bring the elephants to life.
Once common throughout Africa and Asia, elephants have declined significantly during the 20th century, largely due to the illegal ivory trade. Though some populations are now stable and growing, poaching, human-elephant conflict, and habitat destruction continue to threaten the species. Both male and female African elephants grow tusks, whilst only some male Asian elephants have tusks, which are extended teeth and each individual can either be left- or right-tusked, and the one they use more is usually smaller because of wear and tear. During times of drought, elephants even use their tusks to dig holes to find water underground. The African elephant is the largest of all elephant species. Elephant species are classified under two families:
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African Elephants (Loxodonta africana): Vulnerable
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Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus indicus) : Endangered
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In 1989, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) - a global agreement among governments to regulate or ban international trade in species under threat - banned the international commercial trade in elephant ivory. Poaching rates dropped following the action but began to surge again around 2010, due to renewed consumer interest in purchasing elephant ivory, largely in Asia. After campaigns by WWF and other conservation groups, governments in problematic ivory markets like Hong Kong, Thailand, the US, and the UK were pushed to take action to clamp down on illegal and unregulated domestic trade that was fuelling the poaching. (WWF)
Many non-profit organisations such as WWF and the International Elephant Foundation (IEF) help protect these species. For instance, WWF works with elephant range state governments, local people, and non-governmental partners to secure a future for this keystone species by thinking beyond protected areas. Engaging in efforts to educate communities that lead to behaviour change that will minimize negative impacts and strengthening anti-poaching initiatives. In many instances, those who used to poach wildlife to earn money to survive are employed as rangers.
Elephants are such beautiful, majestic creatures and deserve to be protected from the endeavours of man.
From black ink
8.3" x 11.7"
Created with Black Ink and Pencil Crayons on Watercolour 230gsm Paper.
Habitat Loss
The Help
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A Continental Tiger. Inspired by Photos produced by Emmanuel Rondeau and Theo Allofs, part of the WWF organisation. The piece originally started as I wanted to test out a black ink pen, so starting with the nose and eyes I produced what you see below. The pencil crayons are worked up over the top of each other to add the detail of shadows and highlights and the yellow tint of the fur contrast against the blue eyes which draws the viewer into the picture. Titanium acrylic and white chalk pen was used to highlight the whiskers and peripheral fur.
The continental tiger’s habitat extends across Asia, from the Russian Far East to the mangrove forests of the Sundarbans to the Lower Mekong. For many decades, tiger populations declined precipitously as a result of habitat loss, poaching, and the trade of tiger products. The Caspian tiger is extinct in the wild, while the South China tiger is believed to be functionally extinct.
The tiger family consists of two recognized subspecies of tiger:
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Continental Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris): Endangered
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Sunda Tiger(Panthera tigris sondaica): Critically Endangered
The largest of all the Asian big cats, tigers rely primarily on sight and sound rather than smell for hunting. They typically hunt alone and stalk prey. A tiger can consume more than 80 pounds of meat at one time. On average, tigers give birth to two to four cubs every two years. If all the cubs in one litter die, a second litter may be produced within five months.
Tigers generally gain independence at around two years of age and attain sexual maturity at age three or four for females, and four or five years for males. Juvenile mortality is high, about half of all cubs do not survive more than two years. Tigers have been known to reach up to 20 years of age in the wild.
The tiger is at the top of the food chain in the wild and thus plays a critical role in the overall function of the ecosystem. Tigers are also a vital link in maintaining the rich biodiversity of nature. If we successfully protect just one tiger, we also protect around 25,000 acres of forest. These ecosystems supply both nature and people with freshwater, food, and health. Maintaining tiger habitats also benefits a host of globally important species like Asian elephants, greater one-horned rhino, and Asiatic black bear, among others. -WWF
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Tiger habitats are at risk from logging, conversion of forests to agriculture or commercial plantations, and infrastructure development. Causing habitat fragmentation, in most instances the animals that are forced into these situations cannot adapt fast enough to survive. A part of this also adds to the threat of loss of prey, food sources for tigers decline, as well as fragmentation, which also leads to prey habitat degradation, they are forced to compete with poaching and competition with livestock over food as well as other activities. In some cases this leads tigers to prey on livestock and humans, resulting in human-tiger conflict as people retaliate by killing the tigers to protect themselves.
Non-profit organisations have been taking steps to find solutions for the threats these beautiful animals face: for instance, the habitat loss issue is being tackled by preservation and connection of tiger habitats, providing secure areas for tigers to thrive.
Monitoring tigers and their prey and building policies will help against human-wildlife conflict and the effects of climate change. As well as eliminating tiger trade/traffic to reduce demand for tiger parts and products and shut down tiger “farms”.
orcas of life
16" x 20"
Created with acrylic on canvas card.
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A painting inspired by the idea that nature is everywhere. I had the urge to paint some form of sea life and experiment with painting water. The most challenging aspect of the painting was the wave and the spray of the water. Having never tried anything like this before I used a range of techniques to create the effects I wanted, including finger painting and cotton as well as paintbrushes, all of which were experimental practices. Again I worked in detail as I produced the painting as I like to see the piece come to life at each stage as I am creating it.
The killer whale or orca is a toothed whale belonging to the oceanic dolphin family, of which it is the largest member. Conservation status: Protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981, listed under CITES Appendix II, and classified as a Priority Species under the UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework.
Orcas are top predators, found throughout the world's oceans with different populations specialising in different prey types. There is a resident group in UK seas, known as the 'west coast community' that feeds mainly on marine mammals. Migrant fish-eating Orcas arrive in Northern Scotland in early summer to feast on Herring and Mackerel (though they've also been known to eat seals too!). Orcas are highly social and are most often spotted in family groups. The UK's resident orca community consists of just 8 individuals, 4 males, and 4 females, and unfortunately, no calf has been born in over 20 years.
TAXONOMIC RANKING
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Order: Artiodactyla
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Family: Delphinidae
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Class: Mammalia
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Phylum: Chordata
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Kingdom: Animalia
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Lifespan: Female: 29 years (In captivity), Male: 17 years (In captivity)
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Mass: Male: 3,600 – 5,400 kg (Adult), Female: 1,400 – 2,700 kg (Adult)
Orcas are also victims of whaling despite a ban on the international trade of whales. Some fishermen view orcas as competition, as ocean pests who are decreasing fishery supplies, and intentionally kill the whales. Other issues threatening to change the orca’s marine landscape and diet include dangerous levels of toxic contaminants, irresponsible whale watching practices, and oil spills. As biodiversity in the world’s oceans decreases, orcas face immense risk as they are at the top of the food chain.
Funny to think this killer whale is not a whale at all but a dolphin species!
Bear Necessities
38" x 58"
Created with acrylic on Palfoam board
Created as a birthday present. My favorite artworks portray wildlife. In this instance the face of a bear with a mandala pattern vibe. The background is carved into patterns that oppose the stern deminer of the bear's expression.
I have never painted on a foam board before and found it to be a challenge but, on a whim, I spray-painted the background white. This added a nice coarse texture that enabled me to create long fur-like effects that I was pretty happy with. As you can see from the break-down photos I work in detail throughout the painting, this is not a common method but I enjoy painting much more this way although, it can often prove to be time-consuming and irksome to correct mistakes. Once the bear was completed, I felt like the background was too empty. Concentrating on the bears' center forehead I had the inclination to use a mandala pattern in the background. As the board had a coat of foam I was able to carve into it (a grueling process without the correct tools!). Once carved, I leaked ink into the lines just enough so that the viewer could see the pattern form.
Bears are found on 1/3 of the earth's land surface and are known to be Keystone species having been estimated to have been around for ~5million years. They disperse seeds, till the land, and fertilize forests. They are also indicator species. Healthy bear populations indicate thriving fish species and healthy habitats making bears quality ambassadors of bear country wildlife. As well as being umbrella species as they co-habitat their environments with many other species.
There are 8 bear species that inhabit different parts of the world. Each of them has a different status according to the IUCN. Most are considered vulnerable but here is a closer look at them:
• North American Black: North America: Least Concern
• Brown Bear: North America (Grizzly Bear) and Northern Eurasia: Least Concern
• Polar Bears: Arctic: Vulnerable
• Asiatic Black Bear: Himalayas, Northern India, Korea, China, Russia, Japan, and Taiwan: Vulnerable
• Andean Bear: Western part of South America: Vulnerable
• Sloth Bear: India: Vulnerable
• Sun Bear: Tropical forests of Southeast Asia: Vulnerable
• Panda Bear: China: Endangered
There are multiple non-profit organizations that work with these beautiful creatures to ensure the health and survival of each species. Vital Ground: Grizzly Bear and Wildlife Conservation Bear Conservation to mention a few.
george
16" x 20"
Created with acrylic on canvas card.
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Disease
Poaching
George is a western lowland gorilla. I chose to paint a Gorilla because of there beautiful features. I started with painting the central relatively long snout with prominent highlights to draw in the viewers eye into the center of the painting along with the vibrant apple he is pictured to consume, the viewer is then drawn up into the enchanting eyes of the animal, shadowed under a pronounced brow ridge, a prominent feature of the male species. I included the apple to bring a burst of colour into the scene. Again, I have painted each section in detail as I worked my way out to the periphery of the canvas. This piece has been another which has allowed me to connect my passion for painting with my passion for wildlife conservation by bringing awareness to all that read the following…
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Western lowland gorillas are one of two subspecies of the western gorilla that lives in the heavy rainforests. Although they remain more common than their relatives the mountain gorillas. The Gorilla gorilla gorilla species is listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List with a decreasing population trend. In fact the western lowland gorilla is the most numerous and widespread of all gorilla subspecies, the exact number of remaining species, however, is not known as the heavy rainforests they inhabit are the most dense and remote rainforests in Africa.
Western lowland gorillas can be distinguished from other gorilla subspecies by their slightly smaller size, their brown-grey coats and auburn chests. They also have wider skulls with more pronounced brow ridges and smaller ears. Large numbers have not protected the western lowland gorilla from decline. Because of poaching and disease, the gorilla’s numbers have declined by more than 60% over the last 20 to 25 years. Even if all of the threats to western lowland gorillas were removed, scientists calculate that the population would require some 75 years to recover. The Gorilla family includes:
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Cross River Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli)
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Mountain Gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei)
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Western Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla)
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Eastern Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri)
Central Africa is home to not only gorillas but also the deadly Ebola virus. Ebola has caused a number of massive gorilla and chimpanzee die-offs in the remote forests at the heart of the primates’ ranges. Some scientists estimate that it has killed about one-third of the wild gorilla population, mostly western lowland gorillas. The toll has been even greater in some areas, such as the Minkébé Forest—once considered one of the most important populations—where the virus may have killed more than 90% of the region’s gorillas and chimpanzees. (WWF)
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The hunting and killing of gorillas is an illegal act but still, the animals are killed for bushmeat or during the capture of baby gorillas for pets. In Northeast Congo, about 5% of western lowland gorillas in that region are killed each year. Timber and other companies have opened areas of once-remote forest, facilitating poaching and the bushmeat trade. Poaching also carries dangers for humans as it is thought that Ebola may be spread through the butchering and handling of gorilla and other primate meat. (WWF)
Non-profit organisations are tackling these issues with promoting sustainable development, ecotourism and have contributed to Ebola research and efforts to develop vaccine for gorillas.
(One day this is the type of effort I would like to lead a team to achieve).