Foxes again......

With Spring in the air, my thoughts have turned to the possibility of seeing young fox cubs. It's been a warm [if very wet!] winter so I suspect the cubs are, by now, thinking about coming out for their first look at the world. They're born blind and deaf so their mother has a lot of caring to do in the first few weeks of their lives but when they're about a month old they are ready to take in their surroundings and they have to learn fast because a few short weeks later they will be weaned....

   

    Sketch of young cubs relaxing

 

Once their tails are fully grown they will be longer than half their body length and they [like most young of any species] enjoy playing with their siblings and learning lessons which will help keep them alive......



    Quick pencil study of cubs playing   


They are very agile throughout their lives and when fully grown are capable of jumping over high fences and even swimming through rivers if the need arises so are well adapted to their hunting life.

 

Working out ideas for painting of cubs playing in Holme Fen

 

Capturing the colours of the Red Fox [Vulpes vulpes] is not always easy as they very quite a lot, but the distinctive marking and bushy tail is usually recognised by most people.

 

Sketchbook page - watercolour study for fur and eye colour.....

 

 

 

Another study in watercolour

 

I shall be looking to put these ideas into a painting or series of paintings as well as another print....there is so much to learn about these fascinating creatures and I really hope that you get a chance to see them for yourself.......just follow the unmistakeable scent!