6 FEB 2020 B&G CLUB, LAGUNA

Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach
Californian Wildlife Biro Drawing Workshop
6 February 2020

WORKSHOP OVERVIEW

Both children from Laguna and Santa Ana attended Jane's Californian Wildlife Biro drawing workshop at Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach. This workshop was delivered as part of her art and environmental education project Where Did All the Animals Go? in partnership with international wildlife charity Born Free. A joyous event, that saw bold, compassionate, abstract and expressive ballpoint pen drawings produced by children from age five years upwards.

Jane and young artist at Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach

Perhaps the smallest drawing ever created in one of Jane's workshops was a characterful and colourful Island fox, drawn by a very young artist. Children also shared insightful conservation knowledge with the group during Jane's presentation.

Jane's presentation for this workshop explored the enormous variety of Californian species. From coast to mountains to desert, California is brimming with endemic and iconic species. The state has 321 endangered species so this workshop highlighted ways to combat the bio-diversity crisis:

LOOK AFTER YOUR OWN BACK YARD! Looking after local environments can help biodiversity flourish, no matter where we live. Plant pollinator-friendly plants from seed in gardens, pots and window boxes. If you don’t have a garden, volunteer for community urban or woodland planting schemes or beach clean-ups. Our gardens, parks and wild spaces can become a network of nature reserves. STOP using pesticides, nature will look after itself with birds and other insects eating greenfly on your roses! Embrace endemic weeds as the wildflowers they are and let them grow

REDUCE CONSUMPTION: CHOOSE products that are sustainably and ethically sourced. RECYLCLE; EAT less meat; TAKE less car journeys; USE less water & power

TELL others about climate emergency and biodiversity crisis – WORD OF MOUTH is key

CONTACT your local Senator and voice your concerns about the climate emergency and biodiversity crisis
DONATE to or RAISE funds for conservation organisations to help them help wildlife

Image: Jane delivering her presentation

One of the most endangered species in California is the gray wolf and the presentation included information about the famous wolf known as OR-7 who journeyed from Oregon to California in 2011. Sadly since this workshop OR-7's daughter OR-54 was killed. Read more here:

www.cbsnews.com/news/or-54-endangered-gray-wolf-that-wandered-8712-miles-found-dead-in-california/

Slide from presentation with information about gray wolves in California

Discussing the phenomenal journey and presence in California of OR-7 during Jane's presentation also reflected the work of the Wolf Conservation Center, New York who she has supported since 2012 to producing fundraising artwork:

American Dream 2014 colour Biro drawing, Jane Lee McCracken for Wolf Conservation Center

DRAWING SELECTION

Selected for this workshop were endangered, endemic or iconic Californian species:

Gray Wolf:

Conservation Status CA: EN

Population CA: 7-10

Mountain Lion:

Global Conservation Status:LEAST CONCERN

Population CA: 4,000 - 6,000

Canada Lynx:

Conservation Status CA: VU

Population CA: UNKNOWN

Tule Elk:

ENDEMIC SPECIES

Conservation Status CA: UNTHREATENED

Population CA: 4,000

Desert Tortoise:

Conservation Status CA: VU

Population USA & Mexico: 100,000

Island Fox

ENDEMIC SPECIES

Conservation Status CA: EN

Population: approx. 6,000 across six Channel Island subspecies

California Sea Lion

Conservation Status: LEAST CONCERN

Global population: 387,646

California Condor

ENDEMIC SPECIES

Conservation Status CA: EN

Population: 488

Ohlone Tiger Beetle

ENDEMIC SPECIES

Conservation Status: EN

Population: UNKNOWN

Southern Sea Otter

Conservation Status: EN

Population CA: 3,000

California Tiger Salamander

ENDEMIC SPECIES

Conservation Status: EN

Population: approx. 10,000

This workshop demonstrated children's love and enthusiasm for art and nature through their outstanding ballpoint pen drawings including Zoe's Mountain Lion and Ashley's accomplished Island Fox.

Rocko aged 5, made a brilliant colour Biro drawing of endangered sea otters and Jane was most impressed with this artwork and Rocko's expressive yet tender preliminary Biro sketch of the mother sea otter hugging her pup. She was also impressive by Rocko's environmental knowledge which was a valuable contribution to her presentation.

Rocko with his Sea Otter Mother and Pup drawing

Carson made a splendid drawing of a great white shark drawn in a continuous line. Carson's father is a talented street artist, and Jane was thrilled to see images of his incredible murals.

Carson with his Great White Shark ballpoint pen drawing

Malakai not only contributed thoughtful information to Jane's presentation but he also embraced her explanation that drawing doesn't have to be photo-realistic and is about expressing ourselves, experimenting, transporting our minds and creating an extension of ourselves through an artwork that comes into existence for others to enjoy. She was thrilled with Malakai's abstract approach, his vibrant colour use and line-making which produced an amazing Mountain Lion drawing.

Malakai with his Mountain Lion drawing

Grace's accomplished work in progress of a Mountain Lion with brilliantly rendered eyes, clearly demonstrates her love of art. Jane is looking forward to seeing the finished drawing!

Grace with her Mountain Lion drawing

Rosie made an exceptional drawing of an endangered Gray Wolf with stunning green eyes.

Left to right: Mar Stash of Boys & Girls Club, Rosie and Jane

Thank you to the inspirational Mar, Danny and all staff and children of Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach for a very special day! Huge thanks to Kirsten Rogers for organising this workshop which is part of Jane's art and environmental education project Where Did All the Animals Go? in partnership with international wildlife charity, Born Free. View the images from the workshop and drawings below: