Oops! I've missed two days of posts!

Been having problems with my little 'laptop' at home, so I am posting this on my work computer in my lunchtime.

Yesterday I started painting the drill illustration again. I over-painted the background, as I really didn't like what I had done last week and then started on the animal. This is what it looked like at the end of the day.

My work station has changed... my normal desk is a designers drawing board that I have set horizontally. I sit on a high stool/chair with no arm rests and a small seat. This working position was causing me discomfort with my arm/shoulder so whilst I have this frozen shoulder problem I shall be at my 'new' desk. This is a low ex-school formica topped bench table and I can use my computer chair (comfy seat with arms and full back) at it which puts my body in a better position for my arm/shoulder. It has made such a difference to the feel of painting at the mo, so much better. Rather than packing my old desk away, the new one is positioned next to it and whereas I used to sit facing the wall with a diagonal view out of the window to my right I am now sat at right angles at the window, giving me a more panoramic view out.

This morning Anna and I met with Mike, from Maintenance, to discuss the job requests we had sent in yesterday and that he had been allocated to do. First Anna showed him where and how high she needs a post putting for a directional sign she has done for the Reptile House and Aquarium. Then I went to Bug World to show Mike where  I need a backing board positioned for the rock pool ID signs. We discussed it a bit as there were various things to consider such as lighting, height, corner hazards and the amount the board should come out from the wall.

As I walked across the zoo coming back from Bug World. I watched little Kukena (the one year old gorilla) playing on a rope ball hanging from their wood climbing frame. He was wrapped around the ball at the end of the rope swinging around and jumping off to leap back on again. His mother, Salome, sat next to him eating and twice put her hand on the rope to steady its swinging motion. Then she put her forearm forward between Kukena and the rope and he dutifully climbed onto  and wrapped himself around her forearm as she walked away.

I got back to the drill illustration and have continued to work on the actual animal. It is so nice to be painting a fully furred animal after doing fish and inverts for such a long time. I know some of the spiders have been furry but painting the hairs on them and depicting a furry mammal is different. The scale makes a change on how you use the brush strokes.

Sitting this morning painting away I was treated to watching a young magpie on the roof of the portacabin right next to my window very close. It was chattering away and turning over all the decaying leaves on the roof, presumably looking for insects to munch on. I could quite clearly see its brown head as opposed to the deep black of an adult. Its feathers are also quite close to the head giving the appearance of a much smaller head. The adults have a 'full' head of feathers that give it a very rounded domed head. It was very intent on its search and when it did realise I was quite close, it stopped, checked me out and then bounced further away across the roof, chattering loudly as it did so.

Popped out during afternoon to put up the ID's on the newly made and positioned backing board in Bug World for the rock pool display. The zoo is busy today, the sunshine and end of school hols in sight may have encouraged a few more visitors.

Back in the studio I continued with the drill illustration and when the text came through via email for this species ID sign I placed that, and compiled a distribution map onto the sign's computer file. By the end of day I had got most of the body done and hope to have it finished by tomorrow.

Little lemurs

Shoulder/arm very sore and touchy today, had an awful nights sleep with it and am wondering if it was working at my drawing desk yesterday that kicked it off. Unavoidably, at the desk, my arm is positioned higher than it has been comfortable to do so over the past month or more. Although sitting there yesterday didn't feel particularly bad, it was starting to feel sore by end of the afternoon. So today again I tried to find other things to do rather than sit at my desk again for most of the day. However I do need to get on with the drill illustration and so spent time there to trace my drawing ready to transfer to the watercolour paper on which I shall paint the illustration. Once I did that I sploshed some paint on to start the background. It has been  about a month since I last painted and though it felt good to be holding the brush again, I'm not sure what I produced I shall be happy with.  To help blow the cobwebs away I tried working loosely  - wet into wet - to get a foundation for the background in. But looking at it later I wasn't terribly enthused with it... so I may end up painting over that next time. I didn't get much further with the drill.

I sorted some more photo's out on the computer and having received two lots of text from the Education dept for the panther chameleon and the blue spiny lizard, I set up the ID files for those two species and added the text in on both. I had to get Jim who wrote the text, to come and look at it again to take out one or two words so that the text block fitted the space on the sign. Then I did an internet search for the distribution ranges of both species... neither were amply represented in the images.. so I will have to contact the reptile section to confirm/source better maps.

Late in the afternoon Anna and I went across to the Aquarium (via the Maintenance Dept to pick up a tall set of steps) to put up the last two fish ID panels that were replacing the temporary paper ones. On our way there we passed through Monkey Jungle, the zoo's main primate exhibit. The ring-tailed lemurs recently had a baby; it is now about a month old and we just had to stop to watch. The mum and another adult were indoors chomping on some delicious fruit and veg put out for their afternoon feed. The baby was clinging to the Mum's back, its fur a pale tawny colour compared to Mum's grey back. As we watched, it shakily clambered off Mum and made hesitant moves away from her side. Soon it grew in confidence and took comical  stiff legged bounces between Mum and the other adult. These  gradually gained speed and accuracy the more it did it. It appeared to be having fun, bouncing back and forward in a jerky animated way; it was certainly endearingly funny to watch. We could have stayed there for many more minutes but we had to get onto the Aquarium to get the job done before the staff locked it up for the night.

Our progress in the Aquarium went smoothly and it didn't take long to get the new ID panels in. We are a bit concerned that the panels aren't black enough, so we need to ask if we can double up the panels (extra cost of course) to get them looking as dense and black as the other panels.

Drills

Before I started on my jobs list this morning I had a chat to Phil, my line manager. I was worried about the length of my to do list and knew that some species would likely be given priority over the others. A brief discussion with him had my to do list reassessed. Now first on the list is the newest species in the collection.... Drill (Mandrillus leucophaeus) followed by the kowari (Dasyuroides byrnei).

Drill  males are truly impressive weighing up to 20kg (44lb - just over 3 stone almost twice the weight of a female) with short stubby tails, colourful rainbow buttocks, heavy built shoulders and neck, black face with raised ridges and a pink chin. It looks almost like a mandrill, but with a less colourful face. They are a rainforest species found only in Equatorial Guinea where they have been declining in recent decades.  Illegal commercial hunting, habitat destruction, and human development have reduced them to perhaps as few as 3,000 in the wild, with the highest population estimate only 8,000... making them Africa's rarest primate.

A Kowari is a small carnivorous marsupial from the grasslands and deserts of central Australia. It measures about 16-18 cms long with a 12-14cm bushy tail and is mouse-like with a pointy face, bright beady eyes and large ears. As cute as it looks, I wouldn't put my hand anywhere near one as they are apparently voracious little critters. They have at least 5 other common names that they are known by such as brush tailed marsupial rat and is classed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red Data List.

So first job was to try and get photo's of these two species.

The kowari are in Twilight World and after observing them last week (for the first time) and chatting to the animal section staff... they are still very elusive and have not been seen out much. My chances of photoing them looked slim. Last week I waited by their enclosure just before the lights were due to dim for the change over (reverse hour lighting - their nighttime is our daytime). They stayed in their little shelters, only poking their cute little faces out of the doorway until the lights went off and the night time lighting came on (very low level blue light).

Then they came straight out, but of course, the camera could not function in such darkness and flash photography is out of the question. So I returned today about 15 mins before the light change over, kept still and quiet to one side of the window and was delighted when one ventured out in the daylight! The light is still quite low so I had to reset the cameras ISO and white balance levels and hope that the little critter stayed still long enough for me to get a half decent/in focus/unblurred shot. Took lots of images and managed to get a few that I could work from.


Pleased with my luck I went out into the daylight and walked the short distance to the drill enclosure. I have not seen this species before either, so was looking forward to seeing them. We have two males and from the looks of them one looks to be more mature than the other as he has a much more impressive shoulder/neck area and the colours on his butt and chin were much more vivid.

 The two boys were quite inquisitive and took a lot of notice of the people who stopped to look at them, including me, and were obviously still investigating their new domain. As I was watching and taking photos of them I saw that they were 'worrying' at some wood surrounding a window pane of their enclosure. It didn't take long before, between them, working seperately, they pulled a strip of wood off. That little act of vandalism I would have to report to the animal section when I got back to the studio. I couldn't fail to be impressed by these animals, they are quite stunning...maybe not exactly beautiful or pretty but definitely full of attitude and strength. The colours on their butts are quite surreal.. and if the animal didn't look like it could flatten me in a single boxing bout I'd say the colours were almost girly!

The dominant guy yawned and just like a baboon the teeth were awesome! Scary fangs in a gape so wide... as Phil said... you could fit your head in it!

Once back at the studio and after passing on the info about the drill's little DIY activity to the animal section, Phil adjusted my chair height and re-angled my desk top so that it would be more comfortable to work with my gammy shoulder. Then for most of the day I uploaded and sorted the  photo's I had taken and set about drawing the drill. Its distinguishing features are its head/shoulders and butt, so I need to draw it in a position to show off all three. Using the photos I took, I pieced together a position that I hope will suit. In drawing them, I noticed how small their hands are in comparison to the bulk of their heads and shoulders.  The head looks massive on the body, which is emphasised by the thick fur on top of the head and round the neck. By late pm I had refined the drawing to a point where I think I'm ready to start painting.

Last job of the day was to put up some of the fish ID panels that we had produced by an outside company. The IDs are printed onto a thick film/plastic to go into the lightboxes in the Aquarium. Anna had sorted all the artwork files ready for the printer company and now between us we needed to put them up. Because of my shoulder I could only stay at the bottom of the steps to make sure they were stable whilst Anna climbed up to remove the temporary paper ID panels and replace them with these new ones. We got all the lower lightboxes done before 5pm, when the Aquarium is quieter public-wise, as we only had a small pair of steps. Tomorrow we have the last few ID panels to go up in the higher lightboxes.. so we'll need to get bigger steps from the Maintenance Dept.

July 30 - Aug 1

I returned to work after almost a month's absence due to a frozen shoulder problem. My shoulder started the 'freezing' process during the last week of May and throughout most of June I had assumed I had a pulled muscle in my arm that would heal. It didn't and the pain got worse - eventually I woke up one morning with such pain that I then went to a GP and was diagnosed with the onslaught of a frozen shoulder, put on strong anti inflammatory painkillers and signed off work. I was given the option of a steriod injection into the shoulder joint, which I really didn't fancy due to the risk that goes with it, the imagined pain of the injection and the fact that I have a distinct aversion to needles! However staying at home in constant pain unable to do anything bar lie uncomfortably on the bed or a couch propped up on pillows to watch TV, read a book, play for short spells on the computer led me to reassess  the option. Plus I had and a week long batik workshop (I was to tutor) coming up at the end of July that I was committed to.
I relented and had the injection on the 9th and a week later the pain level had dropped sufficiently enough for me to tutor the workshop. Throughout the week the pain continued to ease and so on Monday 30th I was able to return to work.

Although the pain level has dropped (for now) I am not completely free of it and the mobility of my shoulder is limited. So for my first 'week' back I kept away from working at my drawing desk, which is currently too high for me to sit and work at. Instead I had much catching up to do with filtering through my emails and sorting out the various text documents sent from the Education department and placing the texts on the relevant ID documents. There was also a number of new species to add to my 'to do' list bringing my illustrations to be done up to 5 fish, 4 reptiles, 1 bird and 1 marsupial. I did reference searches for the new species and lots of 'little' jobs on the computer. to get these ID's 'on the go' Next week I hope to get my drawing desk height sorted so that I can start work on the illustrations.

It was lovely being back, not only for the company of my work colleagues but the sights and sounds of my work environment. I never try to take these for granted but when you've been away for a while they do come at you all fresh again.  Here are a few highlights that I enjoyed on my first days back.....
Hearing the agile gibbons dueting and the Sumatran laughing thrushes call across the zoo to each other did bring a big smile to my face. Going out and watching the seals play as they swim effortlessly through the water in their excitement before being fed. Waiting patiently for the new marsupials - the kowari - to come out as soon as the lights dimmed in Twilight World (our nocturnal house) and then watching them for a while in the low light. Seeing how big the youngster Kay is now against her Mum Shiva (the Asiatic lions). Watching how the spider monkeys, recently moved to another enclosure, make different use of it than the previous occupants - the howler monkeys. Watching the male okapi twist his long tongue around leaves to strip them from a long bendy twig. Looking in on the rockpool display to see how much the seaweed has grown.  Watching the gorillas exit their indoor area one after the other, after the morning's food had been scattered on their island. All little things really, but in my mind such a delight to be able to witness as an 'everyday occurance' in my workplace.

Mon 2nd, Tues 3rd and Weds 4th

Monday 2nd
Didn't go into work as shoulder and arm very painful and once again very little sleep. So decided it would be best to rest arm and try to get some sleep.

Tuesday 3rd
Again another bad night sleep and pain wise, but pain not as bad as day before so decided to go to work.

The drive in was painful and the pain got worse through the morning, even though I tried to reduce my arm use. But it's not the same as being at home where I can rest it properly. I got a few jobs done, though not much. Ordered supplies, including printer inks from an outside office/art supplier. Typed up my May/June job sheet for Phil, Graphics Manager, for the bi monthly department report and gathered some reference photo's off the internet for one of my next illustrations... a spiny starfish. But by 12noon I had had enough and went home just before lunchtime.

In the evening I went to the docs and have been told that my shoulder is not impinged but 'frozen,' or is in the process of freezing. So I am off work for the next week at least.

Wednesday 27th June

Back in work today after resting arm and shoulder yesterday.

So back to the goliath stick insect... had hoped (had I been in) that I would have finished this yesterday. So today's target is to get the little beastie done, checked, scanned and placed on ID sign, printed, laminated and on show by the end of the day.

 Well I got part way there..... got the painting finished, checked, scanned and placed on the ID file by late afternoon. Having sent the text that was to go on the ID sign to the invertebrate animal section (Mark had not yet seen it) I got an email back from him later with a small query on the grammar, so I sent an email to Dave in Education for him to check it over.

I had another email from Nigel on the Bird section late in the afternoon... there was an error spotted on the distribution map of the brown-breasted barbet. Unfortunately we are out of a black ink on the computer printer, so I sent the corrected ID through to another printer... sadly it did not print well and there was no time left to switch on, send and print it on the thrid printer we have at our disposal. Even if there was I had no time to then trim, laminate, trim again and take out to section to put up and then wait for the laminator to cool so that it could be switched off before I left to go home. So it would have to wait and be the first job I do on Monday.

Had no time to sort out the image of the goliath stick insect to post on here either so again.. will do that on Monday.

Tuesday 26th June

No work today at the zoo as have taken an unscheduled day off (sick day) due to a visit to a health centre and being diagnosed with a shoulder impingement.