African Art | NaturesScene

Soon to Be King

NaturesScene — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 19:42:55 +0000

19″ x 31″ – Giclee Canvas – 175 Edition
“Beating the odds of survival in the wild, this male has sharpened his skills over the years and today proudly displays all the characteristics allowing him to one day reign over a pride of his own enjoying all the privileges of a king.” — John Banovich

Mild Winter Elk

NaturesScene — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 19:39:25 +0000

17 1/2″ x 26″ – Limited Edition Paper Print – 999 Edition

Jewel of the Crater

NaturesScene — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 19:37:48 +0000

14″ x 11″ – Giclee Canvas – 350 Edition
“This piece was inspired by a friend for his anniversary. I wanted to portray the pair of zebra as if they are standing before a large gathering ready to exchange vows. The setting is Lake Makat in NgoroNgoro crater. This soda lake attracts thousands of flamingos and the fresh water inlets attract herds of wildebeest and zebra making for a very popular drinking area. The kaleidoscope of white and pink flamingos makes for a perfect backdrop for the black and white striped torsos of the zebra. They contrast perfectly with the cerulean-blue sparkling water, making the whole scene appear as if they are the “Jewel of the Crater.” – John Banovich

Jewel of India

NaturesScene — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 19:36:02 +0000

38″ x 27″ – Giclee Canvas – 150 Edition
“We all need a sanctuary.
Sometimes, a specific idea for a painting precedes the research. While in India, I hoped to find an ancient architectural element in the tiger’s domain. Tigers live in an area inhabited by humans for thousands of years – many of these places have long since been abandoned. It does not take long for nature to reclaim them. I found this shrine 2,500 feet below Fort Ranthambore temple. Hindus must have used it for prayer and solace from the sun during the long trek up the mountain. Tiger scat and prints surrounded it. At one time or another, a tiger had claimed this temple as its own.
With 1.1 billion Indians struggling to feed themselves every day, it’s a wonder pockets of wilderness remain. The Bengal tiger survives only on small islands of habitat in a sea of humanity. Tiger corridors linking these isolated areas might allow the cats to exchange their genetic diversity and ensure strong populations in the future. But even if we find a way to create these corridors, we must find a way to curb the unyielding demand for wild tiger parts in traditional Chinese medicine. It’s estimated that over half of China’s 1.3 billion people use tiger parts, rhino horn, bear gall bladder and a plethora of other animal pieces. As China’s economy grows and personal income rises, the demand for pseudo-medicines rises as well. With only a small number of tigers still roaming within China’s borders, poachers are forced to look elsewhere. The international trade in illegal wildlife parts is estimated at six billion dollars a year. It is unsustainable.” – John Banovich
“Home to around three quarters of the world’s wild tigers, India is perhaps the last remaining hope to insure their survival. The losses of habitat and illegal poaching have had a devastating impact on their numbers over recent years. This ancient shrine, which was once used by Hindus perhaps for prayer and seeking solace from the sun, a large male tiger has now claimed for his own. In an effort to save one of the rarest cats in the world, India’s Project Tiger has been met with good success. For the lucky observer to see one of these magnificent creatures in the wild, one begins to realize why the royal Bengal tiger is truly the “Jewel of India.” – John Banovich

High Country Wolves

NaturesScene — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 19:34:14 +0000

24″ x 16″ – Artist Proof Paper Print – 500 Edition

Right of Way

NaturesScene — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 19:29:05 +0000

74″ x 49″ – Showstopper Giclee Canvas – Only 1 Artist Proof Left!

Following the Tracks

NaturesScene — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 19:27:04 +0000

18 1/2″ x 27″ – Signed and Numbered Paper Print – 999 Edition

First Light

NaturesScene — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 19:24:57 +0000

28″ x 40″ – Giclee Canvas – 175 Edition
“As the sun begins to chase away the cool evening, a large male leopard basks in the early morning light. The leopard is the most elusive of all the great cats. Their dark rosettes on a yellow-ochre background make them nearly invisible in a variety of settings. Several years ago on a Safari in Zambia, I had the good fortune of viewing six leopards in ten days. In the bright daylight, they were seen only because they moved. I often wonder how many cats I did not see.” – John Banovich

Distant Movement

NaturesScene — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 19:20:42 +0000

18″ x 30″, Signed and Numbered Limited Editon Print, Edition of 750

Offensive Line

NaturesScene — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 19:15:51 +0000

12 1/4″ x 37 1/2″ – Paper Lithograph – 490 Edition
“The idea for the paintings, “The Defensive Line” and “The Offensive Line,” originated in the titles, and having played football, I remember the feeling of lining up against a lineman that outweighed me by 75 pounds. African buffalo seemed to be the best candidate for that role, given their bad attitude and helmet-shaped horns. On safari in 1994, I came across a pride of lions and a herd of buffalo engaged in such a test of wills. Positioned 30 yards apart, they began to size each other up for what would be the world’s greatest confrontation. These nomadic lions in “The Offensive Line” are not yet mature enough to be pride males. Most are probably brothers or closely related. They possess a cocky attitude, feeling indestructible in their group of seven. I’ve seen large groups of males such as these on several occasions while on safari. Being immature cats, they do not yet possess the wisdom to clearly understand that there is easier pray elsewhere. The lions were waiting for a moment when the buffalo would make themselves vulnerable, exposing one of their young or showing signs of injury. Watching with intense interest, it was as if the lions were actually plotting a strategy. The buffalo in “The Defensive Line” make for a very formidable opponent. The biggest bulls face the cats with an overwhelming sense of power. African buffalo weigh in at approximately 2,000 pounds. The lions weigh approximately 400 to 450 pounds, but they compensate for their smaller size with their ferociousness and attitude. Thirteen yellow-billed oxpeckers can be found among the branches. They remind me of the fans in the stands, hustling about, readying themselves for the incredible showdown.” – John Banovich, Artist