Wildlife Drawings 1987-1994 Gary Hodges

1 wildlife drawings 1987-1994

1.1 born free
1.2 fast frame franchise
1.3 mall galleries, solo show 1994

wildlife drawings 1987-1994

after visiting many potential art , book publishers in 1980s hodges have been dismayed dismissal, stating black & white doesn t sell. encouraged him work in colour. however, huge success of first 5 greenpeace limited edition prints, selling out editions of 850 prints, helped him decide publish himself. uncommon @ time.

hodges has described technique public while artist in residence @ prestigious nature in art museum in gloucester, uk on many years. has provided access drawing through time-lapse photography in 2 of films made him , in magazines. uses range of graphite pencils grade 8h 5b, scalpel knife sharpening pencils, trimming paper , creating bevel on plastic erasers uses bring out highlights. references have been own photographs, , in more recent years largely taken wild. has expressed real concern on conditions , ethics of zoos. drawing may take him many months, them taking longer in more recent years. draws on fabriano 5 paper, reproducing images limited editions on same paper maintain quality.

his greenpeace drawings of green turtle (1987) , narwhal (1987) have become collector s pieces prints first selling £8.50, more green turtle exchanging hands £3,500.00 on secondary market. during time snow leopard (1993) became fastest selling print (edition of 850), although has since been surpassed. scarcity created secondary demand selling around £3,000 many times , has reached £3,200. investment potential of prints has attracted additional collectors following.

he became prolific in period exhibiting @ various shows including medici gallery, london, mall galleries, london , robin des bois gallery, paris - in 1989.

born free

hodges first met stars of iconic movie born free, virginia mckenna , late bill travers, in 1989 @ society of wildlife artists annual exhibition in london. states little overwhelmed , shocked when wanted buy eléphants africains drawing. mckenna , travers had set zoocheck (later known born free foundation) press closure of zoos.

soon after meeting, george adamson, true-life character in born free, murdered in kenya. hodges received call mckenna asking him accept commission draw adamson in time memorial service in london. working old videos , photographs hodges created george adamson boy , christian (1989), adamson s favourite lions. virginia mckenna loved drawing , hodges stated gave him greater confidence artist.

hodges , mckenna have remained friends hodges supporting born free foundation many years. mckenna said of drawing picture of love , trust. lord of lions george adamson boy , christian. living spirit of animals shines through eyes , beauty of physical presence leaps paper. artist understands.

fast frame franchise

virginia mckenna s secretary took limited edition print of george adamson boy , christian framing shop in croydon, surrey. owner of shop impressed hodges art asked stock prints in 1990. turned out shop part of fast frame franchise , when prints sold croydon contacted other fast frame shops around uk. before long limited edition prints being sold in around 75 framing shops.

hodges being recognised art winning wwf fine art prize @ society of wildlife artists annual shows in 1989 , 1990. in 1991 held highly successful solo show in medici gallery in central london , prints being sold in charity shows retail outlets.

in 1992 drew bengal tigress , cub uk televised charity appeal itv telethon, prints of sold through fast frame franchise. these prints, first ever television charity, raised ₤20,000. after franchise went liquidation , hodges built individual relationships remaining shops.

mall galleries, solo show 1994

with popularity growing, hodges decided stage solo show of work @ mall galleries in central london. large space used many different group art shows , centrally positioned on mall next ica, near trafalgar square , buckingham palace.

already associated 2 wildlife groups - born free foundation , environmental investigation agency (eia) (his partner dave currey founding director) - decided donate proceeds these 2 organisations aid work. show took place 24 november – 5 december 1994. @ private view queue enter tailed down mall , inside there constant line of people trying buy originals , limited editions prints. event on local television, auction held, , number of notable uk celebrities actively involved in helping , buying art. described gallery first time had seen many people @ solo show.

the show complete sell-out. 21 originals , on 900 limited editions prints sold , raised £90,000 2 organisations. although hodges established, after huge success prints became more in demand, editions sold out in weeks , secondary art market prices increased.