Safari

Sandy Campbell is a reference librarian in the Science and Technology Library at the University of Alberta.

Robert Bateman’s paintings are always a joy. His almost-photographic
renderings are well known to nature lovers. In these African works,
Bateman uses light and shadow as well as dust and haze to give a sense
of the immediate environment of the animals.

Safari is in part a new packaging of old work. “Wildebeests at
Sunset,” “The Wise One—Old Cow Elephant,” and a reverse image of
“Cheetah Siesta” were all published in Bateman’s Portraits of
Nature (1987). However, this time, Bateman has focused his efforts on
educating children about African wildlife and the risks it faces.
Writing in Bateman’s voice, Rick Archbold describes the artist’s
experiences with each of the 14 animals showcased in the paintings. The
text includes general information about the animals’ habitats and
behaviors. We also learn a little about the artistic process as it
pertained to Bateman’s painting of each animal.

This is a beautiful book with a solid message. Highly recommended for
school and public libraries, and for anyone who loves Bateman’s
paintings.