DAVID SHEPHERD | Indian Rhino and Water Buffalo
Oil on Canvas
51 x 86 cms / 20 x 34 inches
Signed David Sheoherd (lower right)
This mesmerizing study beautifully captures the essence of two colossal creatures: the Buffalo and the Indian Rhino, where David Shepherd witnessed these creatures in the Kaziranga National Park, in Assam, India. The buffalo, characterised by their large, curved horns, are of the water buffalo species found in India as well as other countries in Asia. The Indian Rhino, mostly found in Assam, India, shares the crown of being the largest variant of the Rhino family with one of its African cousins, the white Rhino. Given their size, it is perhaps surprising that the diet of these immense creatures consists mainly of grass, amongst other vegetation. The Indian Rhino can run at speeds of up to 35 miles per hour, an aspect which Shepherd has crucially chosen to represent in his study.
David Shepherd is regarded by many as being the worlds leading wildlife artist. He started his artistic career as an aviation artist, and an early commission for the RAF took him to Kenya where David painted his first wildlife subject and he never looked back.
David's love of wildlife is apparent in all aspects of his life. In 1984 he established the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation to fund vital enforcement and community projects that protect wildlife survival in the natural habitat, and has since received many conservationist awards including an OBE.
David's distinctive style stems from a personal attachment with the animals of Kenya. His impasto brushwork in the foreground contrasted with the detailed and intricate depiction of the wild animals highlights the details of the rich African terrain and the fragility of the animals within.
