This painting of a kangaroo with her joey safely tucked in her pouch was inspired by a visit to a nature park in South Australia and of course by Kanga and Roo from Winnie the Pooh.
The kangaroo is iconic and the symbolism of the safety offered by the mother’s pouch runs deep. Watching a pretty huge roo somersault into the pouch, leaving a random leg hanging out, is a sight I would not tire of. Newborn joeys are just one inch long (2.5 centimeters) at birth, or about the size of a grape. After birth, joeys travel, unassisted, through their mom’s thick fur to the comfort and safety of the pouch. Isn’t nature amazing?
I used an ink resist technique with gouache and watercolour in this painting and hinted at the wonderful indigenous art of Australia through the use of dots. I did not want to appropriate a culture which is not mine, so was careful in my depiction of the kangaroo.
It is 70x70cm on canvas and waxed to protect it. It is framed in a simple bare wood tray frame, so that it is ready to hang in your home.
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