Cultural Pride Print

Nguni Cattle, Lidgetton, KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. The majestic spread of the Nguni bull’s horns. This beloved Nguni breed of distinctively marked cattle are endemic to South Africa — a highly-prized hybrid of different Indian and later European cattle breeds, they were introduced by Bantu-speaking tribes to southern Africa during their migration from the north of the continent. I always work from my own reference imagery (except where commissioned otherwise), and from a shoot of perhaps 100 images, I may choose five to render in charcoal, conté and chalk pastel. For this piece, I was literally lying in the field, cushioned by soft, dry grass (avoiding the cowpats!) with these huge beasts looming in gentle curiosity over me. Currently, I am busy with a series of Nguni Cattle artworks.