The art of
Robert Louis Caldwell
Robert Louis Caldwell
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"Kikoti Askari Siku (Red-headed Agama)"Graphite Drawing on #300 Arches watercolor paper
11 x 7 in Sold
Private collector This drawing will is featured in Robert’s instructional book
“Draw Realistic Animals: Wildlife, Pets & More,” published by North Light Books in June 2014. |
In Swahili, “Kikoti Askari Siku” means “the day guard at Kikoti.” Kikoti is the camp that I stayed at in Tanzania, Africa, which is just outside the Tarangire National park. Askari are the guards, usually Masi warriors, who escort you at night from the main areas of the camp to your private tent to protect you from nighttime predators. Escorts aren’t required during the day because the dangers from predators aren’t as high.
On most days, our game drive would be broken up into a morning run and then a afternoon run, and we would return to camp for lunch. Every time we returned to camp, there would be this little guy, a Red-headed Agama, sitting on top of a dried piece of acacia at the entrance. I began to think of him as our daytime guard, who watched the entrance to the camp while we were gone. As soon as dusk appeared, he would disappear and be relieved of his duty to the Masai warriors who guarded as at night.
On most days, our game drive would be broken up into a morning run and then a afternoon run, and we would return to camp for lunch. Every time we returned to camp, there would be this little guy, a Red-headed Agama, sitting on top of a dried piece of acacia at the entrance. I began to think of him as our daytime guard, who watched the entrance to the camp while we were gone. As soon as dusk appeared, he would disappear and be relieved of his duty to the Masai warriors who guarded as at night.