The Survivors
by Simon Combes
A pair of eastern black rhinos make their way across the floor Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Crater in the late-afternoon African sun. Weighing in at one to one and a half tons and over 60” tall at the shoulder, this ill-tempered prehistoric throwback roams the savanna at will. Black rhino have a tendency to be less social than their cousins, the white rhino, but a mother and calf do remain quite bonded for up to four years.
At one time, over 30 species of rhino could be found around the planet. Now there are only five. Two, the black and the white, are found in East Africa, both have two horns. A rhino’s poor eyesight is augmented by a strong sense of smell and good hearing (and the above mentioned bad attitude). Left unharmed by man, a rhino can live 30 to 40 years in the wild.
Simon loved rhinoceros, but painted surprisingly few. The Survivors was a personal favorite of his.
Greenwich Workshop Fine Art Giclée
Canvas:
limited to 50 and numbered.
30"w x 20"h.
$725
Arrogance
by Simon Combes
“I enjoy relating animals to human equivalents,” said artist Simon Combes. “I always think of cheetahs, for example, as very serious animals. A lion may grin and a leopard may leer or sneer but a cheetah would only frown. A cheetah might be a dedicated professional athlete whereas a lion would be an amateur rugby player.”
Simultaneously relaxed and vigilant, the cheetah at the center of Arrogance seems very somber indeed. This is, in part, attributable to the cheetah’s “tear marks,” black markings that run from the cheetah’s eyes to its mouth. The markings help block sunlight, as well as aid in hunting and seeing over long distances. They also make the cheetah appear incurably grave.
Simon Combes’ gorgeous rendering of one of nature’s fastest animals at rest was created as part of his “Great Cats of the World” series. Arrogance is a captivating portrait that will become the focal point of any room.
Greenwich Workshop Fine Art Giclée
Canvas:
limited to 100 and numbered.
30"w x 20"h.
$725
|
