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Afrcan Fish Eagle - painting in oils by Toni Hazle

Why Africa?

My interest in Africa began many years ago - January 1950 to be precise - when on or around my 7th birthday, I was on the deck of the British troopship the Empire Windrush en route to Egypt. My mother pointed to a distant shore and said,"That's Africa!" Immediately entranced, I asked her,"Africa - is that where all the lions and tigers come from?" "Yes," she replied vaguely and inaccurately! But the love affair was born and has both blessed and cursed (though mostly the former) me ever since. By the age of ten, my nose was rarely out of books about that continent - everythimg from Gerald Durrel to Albert Schweitzer (On the Edge of the Primeval Forest was my favourite reading).
I have also always adored all birds and animals and have drawn and painted them for as long as I can remember. These two loves combined until eventually, following a successful exhibition of my work at the French Cultural Centre in Blantyre, Malawi - as part of Malawi's Idependence celebrations for that year - I became a professional Wildlife Artist in 1981.Above is an example of my work - an African Fish Eagle which I painted in oils whilst living in Kwa-Zulu-Natal, Republic of South Africa in 1989.

My latest painting.....

My latest painting....."Cheetah Pool".

I finished this painting today! In it I hope to have captured the beauty - and some of the savagery - of Africa This is a watercolour and a gift for a very dear friend.

The story behind the painting.

Cheetah one.

This is a detail from my painting "Cheetah Pool".

Thew story behind the painting.

Cheetah two.

These first two cheetahs are unsettled by the presence of the bird in the foreground. Thay are unable to attept to catch it as cheetah fear water - the bird is aware of this, of course, and knows it is safe.

The story behibd the painting.

Cheetah three.

This young cheetah has attempted a swipe at the bird and is licking its fron tpaw which got wet in the process. It has learned that such a bird is out of range because of the presence of water and is ulikely to repeat such an attempt in the future.

Detail from painting - dragon fly.

Dragon fly.

No African pond is complete without at least one dragon fly!

The story behind the painting.

African Jacana.

The bird in the foreground. This is an African Jacana - or Lily Trotter. These birds - as their name suggests - frequent water lily ponds. Note the size of the feet which faciitate its movement across the lily pads.

PLEASE NOTE -TO APPRECIATE THE DETAILS FROM THIS PAINTING, PLEASE ENLARGE THE PHOTOGRAPHS BY CLICKING ON TO EACH ONE.

Leaving.....

Sorry dear VT friends - I am now leaving VT !
See you on Facebook!

Well, I said that a while ago - but I have just had a WONDERFUL time with Virtual Tourist in Serbia and Macedonia, so I was WRONG, innit!
I saw some beautiful places, ate some excellent food but, best of all, met and socialised with really lovely VT members. I probably won't contribute much to VT pages as I am too lazy, but I certainly hope to attend some more of these great meetings......
Thank you to everyone who made my trip so special - particularly Keti and Valentina - Toni xxxx

Intro Updated Jun 2, 2011
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Comments (23)

hunterV Mar 4, 2012 at 11:36 AM Report Abuse

~ Hello, Toni! ~ Greetings from the snowy Ukraine! ><><><
Fugu Jan 9, 2012 at 10:29 PM Report Abuse

Happy belated birthday!
aphrodyte Jan 7, 2012 at 10:19 PM Report Abuse

Happy Birthday! All the best!
Paris92 Aug 1, 2011 at 10:27 AM Report Abuse

I just saw the dress--lovely but not half as gorgeous as Kate's, I thought. Thought Kate's hat was fabulous!!! Hope you are well!!!
AsiaBarney Jul 2, 2011 at 8:18 AM Report Abuse

Hi Mdm. Toni, me and my Choc shepherd glad to meet you in Euromeet2011!
johngayton Jul 1, 2011 at 4:11 PM Report Abuse

Hi Toni - yep we were never formally introduced and so we must have sort of been ships in the night. Love your paintings. I'm me on Facebook - so catch up with me there.
yumyum Jun 14, 2011 at 11:40 PM Report Abuse

I'm sorry that you left the Sunday dinner in Ohrid so early! Hope you still had fun.
MacedonianUK Jun 4, 2011 at 3:11 AM Report Abuse

Hey Toni, it was plesure to meet you in Macedonia. Hope you will come back to visit for longer.
dustydaisy04 May 4, 2011 at 12:35 PM Report Abuse

hello, you there ??
grayfo Jan 9, 2011 at 8:19 AM Report Abuse

Well you certainly don't look it ...