If
you have a love for African wildlife and also posses an artistic flair, then this
course is for you! As a participant you will get a behind-the-scenes experience
of a South African Game Reserve whilst getting the opportunity to photograph,
draw and sculpt the animals and their everyday life.
The course if
run by the famous photographer and sculptor, Bruce Little. During your stay, Bruce,
and other guests, will give you both practical demonstrations and theoretical
lectures to help you fulfil your potential.
You
will have frequent opportunity to go out on game drives and to walk about the
game reserve to observe, photograph and sketch a wide variety of game, before
going back to the studio and working on your sculpture. All equipment will be
provided, but if you would rather bring your own tools then you are welcome to.
You
will also get the opportunity (for those who are interested) in helping out with
the running of the reserve. Activities include fence and road work and the managing
of game.
More about Bruce Little
The
course is hosted by Bruce Little, a committed conservationist, accomplished photographer
and talented sculptor. Bruce worked as a game ranger throughout South Africa working
in game reserves including Londolozi and Singita. During this time he started
to work in clay, sculpting animals to express his own private interest and passion.
His friends and family then persuaded him to share his artwork, and Bruce
started to make bronze works which gained international recognition. Bruce "sculpts
to honour the animal for what it is, now what it was" and rather than make
completely anatomically correct replicas, he sculpts what he see as the animal's
character. Bruce's work has been sold to collectors on all five continents and
his work has been shown in galleries throughout London and South Africa. As a
participant on this course, Bruce will use his own talent and sill to teach you
how to sketch, photograph and sculpt beautiful South African wildlife.
There
is no other course like this in the world, so come and experience South African
wildlife in a completely unique way.
 | Location
During
your stay you will reside at Hopewell Game Reserve, located in the Eastern Cape
of South Africa. Hopewell
was a cattle and sheep farm until it was bought in 2001 and its potential of being
a small game reserve was realised. Hopewell is located on the coast on a conservation
belt and has an incredibly diverse flora and fauna. All fences, cattle grids and
water troughs were removed, and thirty kilometres of game fencing was erected
around the entire perimeter. Then the search was on for suitable indigenous animals
that would restore balance and diversity to the eco-system. | |
So far animals that have been reintroduced include elephant, rhino, hippo, cheetah,
giraffe, eland, kudu, zebra, waterbuck, hartebeest and many, many more. Large
predators will be reintroduced in the future, but at the moment visitors can walk
certain areas of the reserve and sketch and photograph animals for sculpting.
|
Accommodation
Accommodation
is in a 4 bedroom house with two bedrooms per room and two bathrooms in total.
There is a communal lounge and dining room and also a kitchen and outside Boma
where participants can relax in the evening with a traditional South African BBQ.
Three meals per day will be provided and cooked by a resident cook and dietary
requirements can be catered for with prior arrangement
Time
Off
Hopewell is located along the Garden Route so there is much to do and
see in the surrounding area. Local towns include Alexandria and the seaside town
of Kenton-on-Sea, as well as being just 40 minutes from the vibrant city of Port
Elizabeth. During weekends you can explore some of the surrounding attractions.
Popular choices include Storms River Bungee jump, or surfing at Jeffrey's Bay. |
Project
Duration and Rates
| 2
weeks | 17
days | 4
weeks | 8
weeks | 12
weeks | | | TBA | | | |
|
