What is it about those three words, “Naked Mole Rats” that I find so compelling? Okay, back up a bit.

For a while now, I’ve been mulling over the idea of drawing every type of animal on our planet. I’ve just always enjoyed the deep study of my chosen subject, the mystery of what makes that animal unique, and then daring to make strokes upon paper to represent what I see before me. That’s why I have been painting and drawing the portraits of animals since I was 20 years old: the challenge, the satisfaction, the fur, the feet!

Although, lately, I haven’t been drawing so much. Which is just plain awful, especially when you learn that I am wont to say (only half-jokingly), “Drawing is the only thing that’s good for you that you cannot overdo.” Think about what’s good for you: you can take too many vitamins, exercise too much, even drink too much water! Gee, I suppose you can draw so much your eyes fall out on the paper, but I’ve yet to see that happen.

So, why haven’t I been drawing so much lately? Well, other parts of my life have interfered, but truly, it’s because I don’t have anything inspiring around here. Lately I’ve been restless, searching, a sure sign that something has got to change, to grow. I’ve gone through my old reference photos a bunch of times and, well, blah.

What I need is a Quest!

Any Quest worthy of its noble name must be ambitious and challenging. This one started out the other day with a simple decision: ask local pet owners if I could use their sweeties as models, with no obligation to purchase the final work of art. I am still going to do that. What a great way to meet my neighbors!

And what a great way to add to my Line Art Menagerie/Gallery on my website, offering prints and notecards for sale to pet lovers. I will happily give a print and some notecards to the owner of the pet I choose to draw, and a discount on further products. So, there’s all those dogs and cats, birds and bunnies and guinea pigs to tempt my pen. When I have something wonderful to look forward to drawing, it’s much easier to carve out the time and settle myself in with pencil, paper, eraser and pen.

But why not take it further? I began my lifelong career of being an artist by drawing horses when I was four, and still love the matchless power and beauty of horses. There are many breeds of horses; so of course I must stay the course and eventually draw a representative of every breed. It helps that I live in a horsey town.

There are even endangered breeds of farm animals, did you know that? I must seek out these less-fashionable animals, before they go extinct, and capture their uniqueness in a portrait. Not all cows are black-and-white Holsteins! Does anyone still raise Milking Shorthorns? How about Chester White hogs?

Those animals we call “wild” are a bit more challenging to find as models; certainly you won’t find me copying out of National Geographic magazine, as many artists do. So I love to draw at the zoo, and take many photos during my visit. That’s where I encountered Naked Mole Rats, at the Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa. So, in thinking through my Quest to Draw Every Type of Animal, I realized every creature, great and small, deserved the same chance. Which meant, not just the lions, tigers, and bears: the Naked Mole Rats have the same right as those big guys.

I have a better chance of succeeding in my Quest with drawings, rather than fully-fleshed-out paintings, just because there really is only so much time.

My main stipulation is to not use commercial photographs copyright by a professional. I want to know the owner if at all possible; I thrive on that personal touch. So: I must teach pet owners how best to photograph their companion animals effectively. Please see my website’s Line Art Gallery for ideas on decent poses.

If you want to participate in my Quest, here are my photographic specifications, pretty simple, actually:
Color or black-and-white are both fine, but NO flash photographs as it’s the worst lighting ever! Plus all those spooky red-eye reflections. Natural light ONLY, please!
Usually best to get on the animal’s level, not to hover over him. Not for a good portrait, anyway.
NO camera-distorted poses, such as huge doggie noses; what may seem fun/cute in a photo just won’t work in a drawing. Trust me on this.

My style is to honor the dignity of the animal,  to capture its essence; some have said, I captured its soul. I cherish the times people have expressed that to me; usually, they have tears in their eyes because they are so happy with their pet’s portrait.

Drawing is a form of meditation for me, as it puts me into that rich and peaceful state called flow, which is such a good place to be. When I draw something, it becomes mine. It’s an intimate, magical process, and one I never regret. More people should learn to draw, and create happier lives for themselves along the way.