These giant tortoises were flaked out under their heat lamp – unfortunately not offering a very good angle to sketch
Last month we explored working up zoo sketches of birds using traditional watercolour on a collaged background. In this month’s demonstration I want to show you how to capture a rather gorgeous iguana (opposite) using pen and wash.
From giant Galapagos tortoises (left) to scary crocodiles, reptiles offer all sorts of possibilities for the zoo sketcher. They are often fairly sedentary, which means that as long as you can see their heat lamp, you will have a cooperative subject for your study. They tend to be housed indoors, making them ideal subjects for winter sketching and, of course, they exhibit beautiful textures and markings.