Wild Life Drawing Online: Brown Hyenas

Come join our pack because as part of Oddball October we are heading to Namibia to track down a species which is surrounded by mystery, myth and folklore- the brown hyena. From grave robbing to shapeshifting, it seems that all around the world these animals are been associated with dark magic. They are often linked to witchcraft and according to some accounts there have been sightings of "a witch riding naked at full gallop through the night, mounted on a hyena and carrying a flaming torch which she refuels from time to time from a gourd of hyena butter slung over her shoulder." …...is it just us, or does that sound like a blast?

These rare animals are the last remaining members of the ancient species group Parahyena, and they themselves are at near threatened status. We will be joined online by Colette Massier from the Na’ankusê Animal Sanctuary who will tell us the story of Nana, a 6 year old brown hyena who was brought in to their care when he was just a day old. We will learn all about this fascinating and misunderstood species and their conservation, and there will be plenty of time for your questions. As Nana has free rein of a large enclosure and most certainly does not accept house guests, for this one we will be drawing from some high quality reference images. 

The class will be hosted by our very own Laura Cuppage who will begin with an introduction and drawing demonstration. She will then be on hand throughout with plenty of tips and tricks on how to capture Nana’s fabulous form and character on your page. As always, the class is open to all abilities. There will be no pressure to great the perfect paw-trait- the emphasis is on enjoying the creative process while learning about the species. The basic materials you need to take part are paper, a pencil, eraser and sharpener, but of course you are more than welcome to work in whatever materials you enjoy or have to hand. And just so you know, we will send out a recording of the session to all ticket holders after it takes place, so you can rewatch as many times as you like! 

50% of profits will be donated to Na’ankusê to help keep Nana and all the other animals there well looked after.