Linda Besse

Washington, USA, Mountain Zebra, oil, 9 x 11" (23 x 28 cm)

My Inspiration

Seeing mountain zebra in the wild in Namibia the summer of 2018 was my first spark of inspiration. Zebra are one of my favorite animals to paint. The contrast of their black and white stripes can make for a dramatic look and often increase the sense of a three-dimensional feel to a two-dimensional surface. This zebra subspecies is not often painted, maybe because they are not as common as plains zebra or because fewer artists like painting their many extra stripes! With their population threatened by habitat loss and competition with domestic animals, the mountain zebra is currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

My Design Strategy

Always enjoying a challenge, I thought painting a mountain zebra with its more numerous stripes in a small format would be intriguing. The goal was to design the painting so at 9 by 11 inches it would feel expansive. These zebra live in the more mountainous regions of southern Africa and a feeling of distance would be essential for a successful painting. Drawing the zebra from the perspective of looking up at him gives the perception that he is on a hill. While it is more common to depict animals looking at the viewer or at least a side view, having the animal looking away from us at another mountain felt more evocative. The large cloud is designed to add distance and energy.

My Working Process

I started with the sky and background cloud, keeping it free flowing with soft edges. The distant mountain is low in the horizon and slightly warmer than the blues in the sky. Once I worked in some rough grass colors, I moved on to the black stripes of zebra. I like to start with the dark stripes which help me feel the shape of the zebra. As I work on these stripes, I pay attention to how the light catches them as they wrap around the zebra’s body. When I get to the “white” stripes, I incorporate the surrounding soil colors and emphasize the sunlight touching them. Once the zebra is finished, rocks and grasses are loosely detailed in the foreground.

Contact Details

» Email: linda@besseart.com

» Website: www.besseart.com