“This painting is about the promise of a partnership I
believe in. The ranch my
family is associated with in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley, Soysambu, has become a
nature conservancy. Wild cheetahs have not been seen at Soysambu for over 6
years, but a long-term feasibility study by the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF)
has been undertaken to assess the possibility of trans-locating them here from
areas where their survival is threatened. Part of that plan is to set up a
sanctuary on the Soysambu Conservancy with the help of Action for Cheetahs in
Kenya and Project Survival's Cat Haven in California".
-Guy Combes
Guy Combes was
born in Kenya in 1971, the son of artist Simon Combes. After studying in
Kenya for several years he moved to the United Kingdom to continue his
education. While in school he developed an interest in visual art. He
studied at art college in Cheltenham, then at the Inchbald School of
Design.
After a short stint
as a consultant, Guy diverted his attentions to the catering and
licensing trade while painting commissions and design work. Guy is now
based in Kenya, where he manages tourist lodges and continues to paint
commissions and works for exhibition. In November 2006 he began a
program as artist-in-residence at the Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum in
Oradell, New Jersey.
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The Constant Gardener
"In the thick high altitude forest of the
Aberdare National Park in Kenya, a favourite of mine because it is so
seldom visited by tourists, it is not uncommon to come round a corner
and startle a bull elephant such as this one," says artist Guy Combes.
"My proximity was so immediate that I was almost able to see the thought
processes in his eyes going from surprise to indignance, as he brought
himself to full attention raising his head and looking down his trunk at
me. I was able to snap a couple of shots before beating a very hasty
retreat as imminence turned to rage and a charge was imminent."
Limited Edition Masterwork Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
"Elephants,”
says Guy Combes, “are to the Amboseli National Park what wildebeest are
to the Mara/Serengeti, which is to say that the environment suits them
perfectly. The juxtaposition of forest on the slopes of Mount
Kilimanjaro and the plains and swamps of the Amboseli lake basin are an
Eden for the elephant who rotate on a daily basis, moving en masse to
the most abundant food supply. On the way back to camp one day I found
myself directly in the way of a gathering of several herds, numbering
around 300 in total, that were making their way down from the mountain
to the swamp to cool off in the midday heat. They were so absorbed in
reaching the water that they were oblivious to my presence and simply
walked around my parked vehicle where I had resigned to sit and wait.
There was simply nowhere to go to get out of their way and even if I had
tried I feared I might provoke one of the large males. I was inspired to
paint one of these bulls walking towards me through the dust, his head
nodding and swaying with great and elegant movement, followed by several
females and young. This now ranks at the top of my many experiences that
have left me in complete awe of the scale and majesty of nature and I
will revisit this scene many times again in my mind and most probably on
canvas.”
- Guy Combes
Limited Edition Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
"The
painting itself, aside from being the most accurate portrayal I was
capable of, includes certain elements that are important to the story.
The area is one that accommodates one of the highest densities of
cheetah populations in East Africa. This could be as a result of a
distinct lack of other larger predators that would be a threat to their
existence, a large prey base, and an area relatively protected from
development. I wanted to include this latter factor and have faintly
suggested a settlement complete with cell phone tower on the ridge in
the middle distance. This, of course, is the greatest problem that
cheetahs face in our ‘human’ age. The locations is very significant here
also, and the distant Ngong Hills together with the setting full moon
make it very specific. The sun and moon are intentionally symbolic here
too: the moon representing Artemis, the goddess of animals and forests
and the sun representing Apollo, the god of arts, amongst other things.
The title, 'The Phantom' suggests an elusive, mythical entity that
exists somewhere between night and day.
It’s possible that this unique morph cheetah could change scientific
theories on cheetah genetics, and his existence could draw further
attention to a species on the brink – my principal motivation for doing
this painting. For ways you can help go to Action for Cheetahs in Kenya
and Athi Kapiti Conservancy.
- Guy Combes
Limited Edition Masterwork Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
“Find a sausage tree,” says Guy Combes, “and the chances are good you’ll
find a leopard as well. They are ideal for leopards, with their large
broad branches to sprawl out on or to place a kill for safekeeping away
from lions, hyenas and jackals. Leopards have evolved incredibly strong
fore and hind leg muscles specifically for climbing trees. This trait
allows them to avoid fighting with other animals of prey over a kill.
“Sausage trees don’t grow in stands, so a large solitary tree provides a
leopard not only with solitude but also with an expansive view of what
is happening in the territory around it. Leopards will hunt from the
early evening to dawn so at midday, as it was when I came across this
great cat on the Maasai Mara, leopards are most likely resting. This cat
was so comfortable in its perch that a group of elephants rubbing
themselves on the base of the tree barely disturbed it.”
Limited Edition Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
“These two paintings (Titan I and Titan II) aren't intended to be a diptych
in the sense that there is a continuum or
inter-action between them,” says wildlife artist Guy Combes. “More so, I wanted to convey the essence of
these formidable foes of the plains separately but
'mirroring' each other, too. The monolithic cold
dark colors of the buffalo contrast with the warm
energy of the lion's head and mane. There's
something about the power and carriage of each
animal that suggests similarities between them.”
- Guy Combes
Limited Edition Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
“These two paintings (Titan I and Titan II) aren't intended to be a diptych
in the sense that there is a continuum or
inter-action between them,” says wildlife artist Guy Combes. “More so, I wanted to convey the essence of
these formidable foes of the plains separately but
'mirroring' each other, too. The monolithic cold
dark colors of the buffalo contrast with the warm
energy of the lion's head and mane. There's
something about the power and carriage of each
animal that suggests similarities between them.”
- Guy Combes
Limited Edition Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
“This painting is
about the promise of a partnership I believe in,” says Guy Combes. “The ranch my
family is associated with in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley, Soysambu, has become a
nature conservancy. Wild cheetahs have not been seen at Soysambu for over 6
years, but a long-term feasibility study by the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF)
has been undertaken to assess the possibility of trans-locating them here from
areas where their survival is threatened. Part of that plan is to set up a
sanctuary on the Soysambu Conservancy with the help of Action for Cheetahs in
Kenya and Project Survival's Cat Haven in California.
As you can see, Soysambu is an ideal location for the cheetah. Project Survival
had commissioned me to paint their cheetah, Tango, who came from South Africa
and was raised at their fabulous Cat Haven facility outside Fresno, California.
I suggested that in the spirit of the project, he be the first 'trans-location'
to Soysambu. In the background is one of Soysambu’s most recognizable
landmarks—a small volcano named 'The Sleeping Warrior.’”
Limited Edition Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
This small herd
of Rothschild giraffe is making its way across the Great Rift Valley as pelicans
from Lake Elmenteita pass overhead. Less than 700 of the Rothschild giraffe are
thought to remain in existence, possibly only 500. Their habitat is severely
depleted and this giraffe subspecies can only be found in the wild in areas of
Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda, Nakuru National Park in Kenya and
Soysambu Conservancy, also in Kenya. “At Soysambu we have a population of 60
that are breeding very successfully,” says artist Guy Combes. The Soysambu
Conservancy is a non-profit organization whose goal is to preserve Africa’s
Great Rift Valley ecosystem for the benefit of future generations of both man
and animal.
Limited Edition Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
The Aberdare National Park in
Kenya, which ranges from 9 to 15,000 feet in elevation, is an enchanted island
of montane forest on the edge of the Rift Valley. The elephants that inhabit
this Eden are accustomed to their privacy since there is so much cover to
protect them from the few people that visit the park. My inspiration for The
Creche came from a recent visit. As I approached the herd, these three females
immediately huddled around their young to protect them. The Aberdare
National Park is a very special place for my own family, too. It is
where we regularly gather to pay our respects to my grandparents, my
uncle and my father, so the family theme seemed particularly appropriate
to me
Limited Edition Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
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