The art of
Robert Louis Caldwell
Robert Louis Caldwell
|
"Without Care (Lions)"Oil on 1/2" maple panel
25 x 16 in SOLD! Private Collector
|
In May 2016, I was asked to create two special paintings for an upcoming show, “7,” at Lovetts Gallery in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Seven artists were selected and each was given a virtue and a sin to inspire their work. I drew diligence (virtue) and sloth (sin).
This was indeed a challenge. As a wildlife artist, how do you convey a virtue and a sin in a painting? As I typically do with concept shows, I started with each word’s meaning.
Diligence: A careful and persistent work of effort; constant and earnest effort to accomplish what is undertaken.
Sloth: A habitual disinclination to exertion; indulgence, laziness; a failure to do things that one should do.
Fast-forward to September and I am headed back to Tanzania for a wildlife safari. Knowing that I needed to begin work on these two paintings, I reviewed the notes I had made on “diligence” and “sloth” in my sketchbook.
The composition for “Sloth” came the following afternoon, where we were still in Tarangire but further south. We had the great fortune to once again find lions, this time two mature males that were hanging out under the shade of a baobab tree. We photographed as much as possible when we first spotted the lions and then slowed down our shots. This is about the time those on the safari started to share their disappointment that the two lions weren’t doing much. The lions would occasionally lift up their heads and look around and then almost immediately lay back down. We stayed with them for about 30 minutes, captured some decent reference material and moved on. Later that day, on our way back to camp, the conversation turned back to the two lions and how we wished they had been were more active. One of the roles of our guide is to also educate us on animal behavior, and he opened his lecture with, “Male lions are so lazy. They lay around all day letting the females do the hard work.” That was the moment my painting “Sloth” was born.
This was indeed a challenge. As a wildlife artist, how do you convey a virtue and a sin in a painting? As I typically do with concept shows, I started with each word’s meaning.
Diligence: A careful and persistent work of effort; constant and earnest effort to accomplish what is undertaken.
Sloth: A habitual disinclination to exertion; indulgence, laziness; a failure to do things that one should do.
Fast-forward to September and I am headed back to Tanzania for a wildlife safari. Knowing that I needed to begin work on these two paintings, I reviewed the notes I had made on “diligence” and “sloth” in my sketchbook.
The composition for “Sloth” came the following afternoon, where we were still in Tarangire but further south. We had the great fortune to once again find lions, this time two mature males that were hanging out under the shade of a baobab tree. We photographed as much as possible when we first spotted the lions and then slowed down our shots. This is about the time those on the safari started to share their disappointment that the two lions weren’t doing much. The lions would occasionally lift up their heads and look around and then almost immediately lay back down. We stayed with them for about 30 minutes, captured some decent reference material and moved on. Later that day, on our way back to camp, the conversation turned back to the two lions and how we wished they had been were more active. One of the roles of our guide is to also educate us on animal behavior, and he opened his lecture with, “Male lions are so lazy. They lay around all day letting the females do the hard work.” That was the moment my painting “Sloth” was born.