NEW Original Acrylic painting Australian Animal Series 'echidna'

NEW to my website and now available to purchase, my most detailed painting to date.

I started this piece back in May 2024 and have been adding to it over the past 15 months.

This piece is my most accomplished artwork created to date.

It has been the most challenging and rewarding painting I've completed since I began working Full-time as a Fine Artist, 11 years ago.

The following is my statement and details of the Artwork

SARAH WELSFORD ARTIST STATEMENT ECHIDNA

As an Australian visual Artist I chose to paint an echidna in acrylic paint as part of my Australian animal series. My aim was to show on canvas some of the fascinating features of this animal. 

The echidna has strong sharp spines covering the back of its body, allowing the animal a roust defence system. To convey this, I painted each individual spine using different shades of the animal’s earthy colours tones, creating depth. This implied the cone shaped structure has strength at the base and then tapering to a honed spike.  Adding blue highlights to the darkened tip of these spines gives the impression of the skies reflection, reinforcing the sharpened points.

Whilst the echidna spines are their primary defence it also has a thick coat of fur, the density depending on the climate.  I painted the fur using a combination of individual brush strokes and then with the same brush using a circular motion, creating a blurred effect, implying the look of dense fur.

With this painting's composition, I was able to show one of the echidna's rear feet, which faces backwards, aiding them while digging their burrows and to quickly escape predators underground.  I also created the Echidna's long sticky tongue by adding touches of white paint, creating the impression of moisture. They use their tongue to collect large quantities of ants and termites when feeding, showing this I painted black bull ants about to be consumed by the echidna.  I added the same blue highlights to the ant’s exoskeletons, evoking the feel of a shiny surface.

Australian animals are a passion of mine to paint on canvas. By doing so, my aim is to highlight the vulnerability of many of our native species. To bring awareness of the destruction of their habitat and the devastation that invasive species have on our wildlife. However, the echidna is prevalent all across Australia but still needs our consideration and protection.

• 40" x 40"
• Acrylic on linen
• Thick edge canvas
• Satin varnish applied
• D hooks and hanging wire fitted on the reverse
• Signed by Sarah on the front and reverse of the painting.
• Certificate of Authenticity is provided with the artwork

**More images and a video can be provided upon request

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