Sketching in the African bush is a little like attending a traditional life-drawing class, but with some serious differences! In a life-drawing class with a human model you know where the model will be and how long he or she will pose for. You may even get to choose the pose. Wildlife is not quite so accomodating. Some species are easier than others - lions will allow you to get very close and may sleep through your entire sketching session, while drinking bull elephants may linger for hours at a waterhole, but most of the antelope species can be horribly skittish. I find that I have to try and develop a photographic memory. The first time I see a species or a certain behavour I don't normally try to sketch it. After I've seen it a couple of times I can more easily picture it in my head and get it down on paper.
Many animals strike wonderful poses and hold them for about 2 seconds! Others dive for cover as soon as my sketchbook appears (how they know the exact moment to move is quite astounding). Hiding behind even the smallest piece of vegetation also seems a popular choice. So for the determined wildlife artist there is only one option - always keep your sketchbook open, never put your pencil down and hope for an animal who intends to stand still for a few moments!
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