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BRINGING WILDLIFE CLOSE TO YOU

"Espérance" is a French word that means Hope. Through Espérance, I hope to pull the species out of the stage of endangerment.

Espérance connects you with the remarkable life we share this planet with.

Amur Leopard

Limited prints available on Archival A3

Green Peafowl

Limited prints available on Archival A3

African Forest Elephant

Limited prints available on Archival A3

Amur Leopard

Limited prints available on Archival A3

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Learn about different species, their habitat,

and ways we can protect them.

Prints
available

Bengal Tiger

Great Hornbill

Carcal

Bengal Tiger

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From the ranges of Himalaya to the deep undiscovered, undistributed parts of Mariana trench.

The hottest part of the Saharan desert to the tropical forest of Amazon.

Every artwork is selectively curated in an effort to spread awareness and better understand those species in danger of being lost forever.

ÜBER ESPÉRANCE

Seit dem ersten Tag im Geschäft konzentriert sich Esperance darauf, Menschen zu inspirieren und aufzuklären über Wildtiere und Notlagen, die ihr Leben gefährden. Durch die Kunstwerke bemühen wir uns, die Lücke zu schließen, indem wir Sie der Tierwelt und ihrer magischen Welt näher bringen.

- Klicken Sie hier -

Home: About Us

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Day 7 of #SavageSeptember
A young and hungry Indian Star Tortoise stretches out to investigate a towering mushroom (Calocybe indica) with its taste buds.

Fun fact(s):
The Indian Star Tortoise, native to India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan, can live up to 80 years in the wild, with females weighing over 6kgs. For communication, subtle cues like head movements, shell nudges, and chasing are part of their social interactions, especially in mating contexts. ‘Carapace’ is the correct term for the top, dorsal part of a tortoise's(and turtle's) shell, while "tortoise shell" is a broader term referring to the entire protective structure. The carapace is made of modified bones, including ribs and parts of the backbone, and is covered with keratin-based scales called scutes. How cool is evolution?!!

Pet trade:
Being highly sought after as pets, the Indian Star Tortoise has become the world’s most trafficked reptile. Citing declining populations in the wild, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species has classified it as ‘vulnerable’. Several thousands of them illegally make their way into homes across Asia, Europe, the United States, and several other countries.

Etymology:
Indian Star Tortoise (Geochelone elegans)
The genus ‘Geochelone’ comes from the Greek words gea (earth) and chelonos (turtle), meaning "earth turtle". The specific name ‘elegans’ comes from the Latin word elegans, meaning "elegant" or "fine", referring to its "tasteful, choice, fine, select" color pattern.

Milky White Mushroom (Calocybe indica)
The genus ‘Calocybe’ comes from the Ancient Greek words kalos (pretty) and cubos (head), referring to the mushroom's attractive appearance(ROFL!). The specific name ‘indica’ denotes that the mushroom is from India, where it was first formally described by in 1974.

Painted on @apple with @adobe @photoshop and @wacom

#IndianStarTortoise #StarTortoise #Geocheloneelegans #Tortoise #Reptile #IllegalPets #IllegalPetTrade #India #SriLanka #Pakistan #EsperanceWildlifeArtworks #Nature #Painting #Wildlife #Artist #WildlifeArtist #WildlifeArt #WildlifePainting #NaturalHistory

Day 6 of #SavageSeptember
The Lion King’s beloved shaman, Rafiki, is quite a character. Even in real life! Let me know how old you were when you learnt that he’s not actually a baboon, but a species of Old World monkeys known as the Mandrill.

Fun fact:
Mandrills are the world’s most colourful primates, with males having electric-blue ridges and crimson facials. They’ve even got purple and yellow, such show-offs! Their canine teeth (fangs) can reach almost 6 cm long, even a lion would think twice! They often display them when threatened, but surprisingly, a “grin” with fangs showing can also mean friendly submission.

Etymology:
Mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx)
The genus name 'Mandrillus' is a Latin term derived from the common English word "mandrill," which is a compound of "man" (referring to the primate's human-like features) and "drill" (an older English word for a type of baboon). The species name ‘sphinx’ was given to the Mandrill because its striking, mask-like face was seen as mysterious and enigmatic, similar to the mythical Sphinx.

Painted on @apple with @adobe @photoshop and @wacom

#Mandrill #Mandrillussphinx #Africa #Monkey #EsperanceWildlifeArtworks #Nature #Painting #Wildlife #Artist #WildlifeArtist #WildlifeArt #WildlifePainting #NaturalHistory

Day 5 of #SavageSeptember
It’s #AmazonRainforestDay! And I’m bringing you a species whose lineage branched off very early in bird evolution, near the boundary between the Cretaceous and Paleogene periods. That’s approximately 65 to 70 million years ago!

Fun fact:
Young Hoatzins hatch with tiny claws on their wings, helping them climb branches or escape predators by dropping into water and scrambling back up. Unlike most birds, the Hoatzin survives almost entirely on leaves, digesting them through bacterial fermentation in an enlarged crop (just like a cow’s stomach).

Etymology:
Hoatzin ( Opisthocomus hoazin )
The genus ‘Opisthocomus’ comes from the Ancient Greek words ópisthen (behind) and kómē (hair), referring to the adult’s long crest. The specific epithet ‘hoazin’ comes from American Spanish, and was derived from the Nahuatl word huātzin, which likely designated a different bird species. Taxonomy can be quite amusing!

Painted on @apple with @adobe @photoshop and @wacom

#Hoatzin #Opisthocomushoazin #AncientBird #Birding #Prehistoric #Amazon #AmazonRainforest #Rainforest #EsperanceWildlifeArtworks #Nature #Painting #Wildlife #Artist #WildlifeArtist #WildlifeArt #WildlifePainting #NaturalHistory

Day 4 of #SavageSeptember
Here’s painting a story, few have ever seen – the critically endangered Asiatic Caracal still holding on to life.

Fun fact:
Caracals can leap more than 3 meters / 10 feet into the air to snatch birds mid-flight, sometimes catching multiple in one bound. This led to them being trained for hunting especially in royal courts to catch birds in dramatic leaps.

Etymology:
Caracal (Caracal caracal)
The genus ‘Caracal’ originates from the Turkish description ‘kara kulak’, which means "black ear", referencing the animal's distinctive long, black-tufted ears. The term passed into French and then English, becoming Caracal caracal, the scientific name for this medium-sized wild cat. The name was formally proposed by French naturalist Georges Buffon in the 18th century.

Painted on @apple with @adobe @photoshop and @wacom

#Caracal #AsianCaracal #AsiaticCaracal #IndianCaracal #WildCat #IndianWildlife #Grasslands #EsperanceWildlifeArtworks #Nature #Painting #Wildlife #Artist #WildlifeArtist #NaturalHistory

Day 3 of #SavageSeptember
Two Striped Hyaena cubs stumble upon a Spectacled Cobra outside their den. A rare encounter, one of tension and curiosity.

Fun fact:
Unlike their spotted cousins, Striped Hyaenas are mostly solitary and rely heavily on their excellent sense of smell to locate food, even from miles away.

Spectacled Cobras are one of the “big four” snakes, responsible for many accidental snakebites across the country. They flare their hood and hiss when threatened, but would much rather escape than waste venom.

Etymology:
Striped Hyaena (Hyaena hyaena)
The genus 'Hyaena' comes from the Greek (hyaina) formed from hys (“boar” or “swine”) and the female suffix "-aina". The name was given because its coarse, bristly fur was thought to resemble that of a boar, not due to any relation.

Spectacled Cobra (Naja naja)
The genus 'Naja' comes from the Sanskrit word Nāga (नाग), meaning “serpent.” Through Latinization, Nāga became Naja. And yes, some of us are stuck with other pronunciation dilemmas… is it GIF or JIF?

Both Hyaena hyaena and Naja naja are tautonyms, which means the genus and specific name are the same.

Painted on @apple with @adobe @photoshop and @wacom

#StripedHyaena #StripedHyena #SpectacledCobra #IndianCobra #HyaenaHyaena #NajaNaja #IndianWildlife #Grasslands #EsperanceWildlifeArtworks #Nature #Painting #Wildlife #Artist #WildlifeArtist #NaturalHistory

Day 2 of #SavageSeptember
Asia’s largest hornbill takes on the world's largest scorpion!

Fun fact:
The hornbill's casque serves as a resonating chamber to amplify its calls. It strengthens the bill for foraging and nesting, and even functions as a weapon or shield in aerial combat.

Etymology:
Great Hornbill (Buceros bicornis)
The genus 'Buceros' is Latin for 'horned like an ox' and the specific name 'bicornis' is Latin for "two horn".

Giant Forest Scorpion (Gigantometrus swammerdami)
Gigantometrus is a genus that includes the world’s largest scorpions.
The genus name likely formed from Ancient Greek roots: “gigas,” meaning “giant,” and “metron,” meaning “measure,” suggesting to its very large size.

The specific name 'swammerdami' is an eponym commemorating Jan Swammerdam, a Dutch biologist.

Painted on @apple with @adobe @photoshop and @wacom

#GreatHornbill #GreatPiedHornbill #Bucerosbicornis #EsperanceWildlifeArtworks #Nature #Painting #Wildlife #Artist #WildlifeArtist #NaturalHistory

It’s International Primate Day! I’m kicking off my #SavageSeptember series, bringing you closer to the fierce and fascinating species we share our planet with.

Day 1: Gee’s Golden Langur (Trachypithecus geei)

Fun fact:
When conflicts arise, they are usually resolved through intimidation displays rather than violence, especially among dominant males.

Etymology:
The genus Trachypithecus is Greek for “rough monkey”, likely referring to their coat, while the specific name 'geei' is an eponym commemorating Edward Pritchard Gee, the naturalist who brought this rare primate to scientific attention.

#InternationalPrimateDay #GeesGoldenLangur #EsperanceWildlifeArtworks #PrimateConservation #Trachypithecusgeei

A sneak peek of an exclusive commission I’m working on, inspired by epic ice age events and discoveries. Can you guess which continent inspired these brushstrokes? [work in progress]

#esperancewildlifeartworks #iceage #wildlifepainting #wildlifeartist #artist #artistsoninstagram

Here’s to friendships forged far from home, high in the heart of the mountains. 🏔️🥂

We caught this stunning Sun Halo just before the rain rolled in, at around 4300m in Uley, Ladakh.

These halos form when sunlight passes through tiny ice crystals in high altitude, silky cirrus clouds… a gentle harbinger of shifting weather. And sure enough, it did. ;)

The best skies are at @snowleopardlodge

Warm up sketch before I take this mountain fella and his plus-one to the canvas! 🏔️🐐 #Ibex #sketch #himalayas

Saúde from Portugal!
Where Europe meets the Atlantic Ocean. 🌊 🤙
#shotoniphone by @kennethlawrencephotography

Happy birthday to the love of my life, my partner in crime, and the most incredible soul I know. From the highest peaks of Ladakh to the farthest forests, every journey with you is an adventure I’ll cherish forever. Watching you being part of nature, capturing breathtaking moments, and connecting people around the world with our precious biodiversity is nothing short of magical, and I’m so grateful I get to share these journeys with you.

2025 is going to be a year filled with many new stories, many new dreams, and many unforgettable experiences together. No matter where the adventures take us, I’ll always be by your side, supporting, loving, and exploring with you. Here’s to many more years of love, laughter, and everything wild. I love you more than words can say, Bubs. ♥️🥰🥂

I’ve always been fascinated by hyenas and it’s been a pleasure to sight one in the Little Rann of Kutch on my current trip.

They’re often misunderstood and the perception that most folk have can be very disappointing, largely due to superstitions and their association with negativity because of their nocturnal / crepuscular nature and ability feast on carcasses.

It’s important to remember that they’ve spent thousands of years perfecting their ways to digest rotten meat and bones, which actually protects us from harmful bacteria and disease.

They’re vital to our ecosystem, and their niche, scavenging ability is always overlooked. 🐾

This quick timelapse painting is my tribute to these incredible creatures. ❤️ <Vote if you’ve sighted any species of hyena in your life>

It was such a pleasure to create this artwork for one of my clients - a surreal encounter between a Mute Swan and a Black Swan; their graceful forms gliding through a dreamy realm. Breathing life into something that was once just an imagination, always brings me pure joy and satisfaction. 🦢

Speaking of swans, the Latin phrase "rara avis," or as the Roman satirist Juvenal quoted, "rara avis in terris nigroque simillima cygno" ("a bird as rare upon the earth as a black swan"), was once used to describe the extraordinary, the unusual, and the unimaginable.

Sighting black swans was so rare, in fact, that Juvenal compared it to a creature believed to be non-existent... a unicorn perhaps. However, in 1697, Willem de Vlamingh discovered black swans in Western Australia, proving Juvenal's assumption wrong.

Juvenal's phrase, once used to describe something as impossible as seeing a black swan, is now connected to the "Black Swan Theory." This theory, popularized by Nassim Nicholas Taleb in 2007, highlights the impact of unexpected events.

Examples of Black Swan events include the rise of the internet, World War I, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

▪️Black Swan are endemic to Australia.
▪️De Vlamingh's crew captured three black swan during their exploration. Unfortunately, these swans did not survive the journey back to Europe.
▪️The first living specimens of Black Swans were brought to Europe in 1804 by Nicolas Baudin. These swans were introduced to the garden ministry of Empress Josephine Bonaparte at the Château de Malmaison, marking the beginning of the presence in European culture.

▪️Mute Swans were introduced to North America in late 19th century for ornamental purposes. They have since established a feral population, where their population has grown rapidly, impacting native ecosystem.

-x-

#surrealart #wildlifeart #swanart #blackswan #EsperanceWildlifeArtworks

Thrilled to see my Paradise Flycatcher, Great Hornbill, and Common Kingfisher paintings grace the walls of one of my clients.

Bringing the Paradise Flycatcher to life, frozen in time as it's about to catch a Plain Tiger Butterfly, was an absolute delight to work on. Grateful for the opportunity to be working on this project, Harshal. 🥂

#EsperanceWildlifeArtworks
#indianparadiseflycatcher
#plaintigerbutterfly
#greathornbill
#kingfisher
#indianbirds

Sharing a work-in-progress from my new series: Spirits of the Desert, featuring the majestic Peregrine Falcon. Coming up next is one of the least studied members of the Hyaenidae family. Can you name which one?

#DesertDweller #wildsplaining #wildlifeartworks

The first time I saw a bearded vulture wasn't in the mountains, but within the hushed walls of a museum. Its piercing gaze, accentuated by black streaks running from its eyes down to its lower mandible, forming a distinctive beard, completely captivated me. That encounter sparked a passion, and I illustrated my first ever bearded vulture painting in March 2019 as part of my Raptor Week collection.

Fast forward to last year. On a snow leopard expedition with my hubby, Kenneth (@kennethlawrencephotography), we spotted a bearded vulture flying so close, I could barely contain my excitement! Sadly, the high altitude made it hard to breathe, let alone scream with joy. Even without the crazy outburst, it was an incredible experience.

Seeing this magnificent bird soaring freely in its natural habitat was unforgettable. That's the majesty I wanted to capture in this commission piece.

#birdsofprey #birdart #birdwatching #raptor #beardedvulture #wildlifeart #wildlifephotography #naturephotography #himalayas #birding

Celebrating World Zebra (Day 31 Jan) with one of my favourite paintings from the Eclipse Collection - The Vanishing Stripes, featuring Plains Zebra and its oxpecker companion.

#WorldZebraDay #WildlifePainting #ZebraPortraits #NatureArtwork #Oxpecker #Symbiosis

As 2023 comes to an end, I couldn't help but reflect upon the many beautiful memories, travels and hundreds of commissioned paintings.

One of my favourite projects this year is this collection of 18 exclusive vintage style artworks.

My other commissioned paintings will soon follow.

I'm currently booked till March 2024. DM me to order a print from my existing gallery or to book my availability for a custom painting post March.

#ShotonIphone by Hubs @kennethlawrencephotography ❤️

#Wildlife #WildlifeArtist #WildlifePainting #WildlifeSketch #FineArt #Artist #LimitedEdition #ArtSeries #ArtCollection #WildlifeSeries #NatureInspiredArt #ArtistAtWork #WildlifePortraits #WildlifeArtistry

And just like that, we completed one year of being beautifully married! 😍😍😍

From enchanting forests to the mighty Himalayas, and several other terrains, the past year feels like a dream that I don't ever want to end. 🥰🥰🥰

Here's to many, many more years of togetherness, adventure, and unforgettable memories yet to be made.

Love you forever, my beloved! 😘😘😘

09.11.23

Getting ready for Snow Leopard Day (23rd October) with a snippet from our unforgettable Ladakh trip, tracking elusive snow leopards with Hubs @kennethlawrencephotography and our exceptional team of trackers @snowleopardlodge. I recently had the privilege of painting this majestic big cat, and I couldn't help but notice the anatomical resemblance to tigers, especially Siberian Tigers.

The two sister species diverged from each other 2.5 - 4 million years ago, resulting in noticeable adaptations to their individual environments.

Footage: @kennethlawrencephotography
Lapel: @kiyan_wildlife_photography

#SnowLeopard #SnowLeopardDay #SpottingScope #Ladakh #LadakhDiaries #WildlifeArtist #wildsplainingwithakshita #wildsplaining #trackingexperience #NatureExploration #SnowLeopardSafari #ConservationEfforts #BigCatObservations

After the regal Asiatic Lion, a majestic Bengal Tiger makes its way into the collection of 18 vintage sepia artworks for one of my clients.

This project has been an amazing experience as an artist where multiple skill sets were unlearnt and relearnt. Super eager to unveil the other species from this exclusive collection with all of ya! 😍🐆

DM me to commission your favourite species - both exclusive and non-exclusive options available. Or simply purchase a print from my existing collection. 🖼️🌿

#ShotoniPhone by Hubs @kennethlawrencephotography

#Wildlife #WildlifeArtist #WildlifePainting #WildlifeSketch #FineArt #Artist #LimitedEdition #ArtSeries #ArtCollection #WildlifeSeries #WildlifeArtistry #NatureInArt #CommissionYourMasterpiece"

Roaring into the weekend with this majestic Asiatic Lion commission for one of my clients.

The collection of 18 exclusive vintage style artworks features various species of predators and their prey, spread across India's diverse habitats.

This project was an absolute pleasure to work on! Stay tuned for more posts from the collection. 😍

#ShotonIphone by Hubs @kennethlawrencephotography ❤️

#Wildlife #WildlifeArtist #WildlifePainting #WildlifeSketch #FineArt #Artist #LimitedEdition #ArtSeries #ArtCollection #WildlifeSeries #NatureInspiredArt #ArtistAtWork #WildlifePortraits #WildlifeArtistry

Super excited to introduce you all to a commissioned project, amongst many others, that I've been working on through the course of 2023!

Stay tuned for a collection of 18 vintage-style paintings.

#ShotoniPhone by Bubs @kennethlawrencephotography

#WildlifeArtist #Wildlife #VintageArtwork #EsperanceWildArt #IndianWildlife

Common Kingfishers are an absolute treat to watch up-close, especially when you have an observation deck for primary spotting, and an eye level birding hide for live sketching / photography. 😍

Thanks to @accord_equips_mumbai for sending me the Celestron Ultima 65mm spotting scope so I can keep marveling at the intricate details of the natural world and create works of art in that very moment.

DM me to purchase a fine art print of the gorgeous little avian. Shipping worldwide!

This reel was filmed by hubs @kennethlawrencephotography at Waghoba Eco Lodge by @pugdundeesafaris. Shout out to wildlife photo hide designer @zhayynnjamesphotography for creating some amazing spaces.

#commonkingfisher #kingfisher #wildlifeartist #wildlifepainting #livesketch #birdpainting #naturepainting #birdwatching #birding #sketch #livesketch #wildlifeart #artist #digitalart #digitalpainting #fineart #tadoba #tadobanationalpark

Hey everyone, I hope you're all doing well and enjoying monsoons!

I've been working on several exciting commissions for various clients which have required my undivided attention. I can't wait to share all of those paintings when they're ready.

I still have 4 more species to go in the Eclipse Collection, and I have another personal project which I'm keeping as a surprise.

Stay tuned for more Wildsplaining content, coming your way soon!

Take care! 😁🙏

Special thanks to my rock, @kennethlawrencephotography , for always being my pillar of strength. ❤️

#wildlifeartist #wildsplainingwithakshita

I couldn't help throwing in some monsoon birding and nature journaling inbetween safaris at the Waghoba Eco Lodge by @pugdundeesafaris.

A huge shoutout to @accord_equips_mumbai for sending the Celestron Ultima 65 spotting scope my way.

With remarkable clarity, I was able to observe a Common Kingfisher's delicate feathers and subtle unique markings, which helped me capture it all in my sketchbook.

If you wish to enjoy birdwatching or spotting elusive subjects from a safe distance, get in touch with Accord Equips to rent this handy piece of gear. 🔭🦅

#CelestronSpottingScope #Birding #SpottingScope #NatureInspiresArt #celestron #NatureJournaling #Tadoba

Happy World Bear Day! 🐻 Today we celebrate the beauty and importance of bears in our ecosystem. On this special day, I'm resharing this 'Wildsplaning' video showcasing the amazing bond between Sloth bear mothers and their young ones. It's heartwarming to see how the adult bears carry their cubs on their backs while foraging for food.

Unfortunately, many bear species are facing threats such as habitat loss, poaching, and climate change. It's crucial that we take action to protect these magnificent animals and their habitats. Here are a few things you can do to help:

🌳 Support conservation efforts: Donate to organizations that work towards protecting bear habitats and preventing illegal poaching. (Like @wildlifesos @wildlifetrustofindia @wctindia @wwf)

🐾 Spread awareness: Share information about bear conservation on social media and in your community. Educate others on the importance of these animals and their role in the ecosystem.

👀 Responsible tourism: If you plan to visit a place where bears live, make sure to do so responsibly. Respect their habitat and behavior, and don't approach them too closely or feed them.

Let's all do our part to protect these amazing creatures! #WorldBearDay #BearConservation #ProtectOurWildlife 🌍🐻🌿

Sloth Bear footage by hubby, @kennethlawrencephotography ❤️❤️

#Wildlifeartist #wildsplainingwithakshita #Wildlifeart

World Sparrow Day is an annual celebration dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of sparrows and their declining populations around the world. Sparrows are small but play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of nature. Unfortunately, their numbers have been decreasing due to habitat loss, urbanization, and pollution. This day reminds us of the urgent need to take action to protect these beloved birds and their habitats. Let's celebrate World Sparrow Day by spreading awareness and taking steps to support sparrows and their ecosystems 💚🌍 #WorldSparrowDay #SaveOurSparrows #wildlifeartist #wildlifeartwork

Back to work after a much needed vacation. I unlocked a new chapter of life with my hubs @kennethlawrencephotography.

Thank you all for your dearest wishes! Love you loads!
To all of who have ordered prints, y for all the enquiries I received on my products, I'll get back to you at the earliest. 😁

Let's dig into the known behaviour of species and learn why they evolved to do it! 🐻

Featuring amazing sight of a Sloth Bear family @kennethlawrencephotography and I spotted in Satpura Tiger Reserve.
It can be tiring for sloth bear cubs to forage for several kilometres a day with their mother, in her search for ants and termites - a sloth bear's staple diet. To avoid exhaustion the cubs cling onto their mother's back, every time she is on the go.

*Convergent evolution: When two completely different species evolve similar features/ traits over a period of time. Eg. Ability to fly in birds and bats.

#wildsplainingwithakshita #Wildsplaining #slothbear #satpuratigerreserve #convergentevolution

We all know more than 70% of Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) diet comprises of bones but do we know why they adopted this behaviour?

Wildsplaining series is back with Ep. 11 'A True Bone Connoisseur' to dig deeper inside the overlooked behaviour. 🍖

#wildsplainingwithakshita #Wildsplaining #beardedvulture #lammergeier #gypaetusbarbatus #animalbehavior

La dolce far niente. ✨

Captured by @kennethlawrencephotography ❤️

#Bandhavgarh #TigerCountry #Safari #Sunset #sunsetdates #SunDowner #MadhyaPradeshTourism #HeartofIndia

Featuring another episode of 'Wildsplaining: Binomials Made Easy' of a beautiful migrant - the Indian Pitta Ep. 10.

All the prints in the background are up for grabs; if you want to grace your office or home with a slice of wild, DM Kenneth (@kennethlawrencephotography) for the quote! 🖼️

Editing: @kennethlawrencephotography
Footage of Pitta with kill: @kiyan_wildlife_photography

#wildsplainingwithakshita #Wildsplain #migrant #westernghats #wildlife #Binomial #scientificnames #indianpitta #pitta

'Work-in-progress' of an addition from the kingdom of Antarctica - the emperor penguin.
So far, I have worked on 65 different extant species, from 7 continents (including Emperor Penguin - Antarctica).
Hoping to reach 100 species by the end of this year - seems like an impossible challenge but my 'glass half full' part says "we still have 122 days left!". 🎉🙌

Go to tools for this painting is @photoshop x @wacomindia

#Penguin #EmperorPenguin #WildlifeArtist #WildlifeArt #Wildsplaining #WildsplainingWithAkshita #WildlifeConservation #Conservation #antarctica #scienceart #natureartist #wildlifeillustration #naturalhistoryillustration #artistofinstagram #illustration #nature #scientificillustration

Featuring another episode of 'Wildsplaining: Binomials Made Easy'.

Thank you @kennethlawrencephotography
for letting me use your gallery! ❤️

All the prints in the background are up for grabs; if you want to grace your office or home with a slice of wild, DM Kenneth (@kennethlawrencephotography) for the quote!

#wildsplainingwithakshita #Wildsplain #beardedvulture #vulture #wildlife #Binomial #scientificnames #gypaetusbarbatus #gyps

Featuring my painting of Tapanuli Orangutans for International Orangutan Day 2022.

..."She Was Not Alone"

The rarest great ape: Tapanuli Orangutan
Orang-Utans (“person of the forest”), classified under the genus “Pongo” were considered to be one species. In 1996, the branch was divided into two: Bornean (P. pygmaeus) and Sumatran (P. abelii). Tapanuli Orangutan (P. tapanuliensis), the third species, discovered in 2017 has only 800 individuals surviving in wild (marking it ‘Critically Endangered’ by #IUCN) and the numbers will drop in future.
Sumatra’s Tapanuli Orangutans are in great threat, not only because of the expansion of nearby oil palm plantations, this species has been facing pressure from the construction of a hydropower project that are being built in their remaining habitat.

Scientists, over the course of 3000 hours have never observed the Tapanuli orangutan placing their feet on ground, most likely because of fear developed of their ‘natural-threat’, another critically endangered species – Sumatran tiger. The threats of it natural predators along with unnatural factors like hunting, conflict with humans, the illegal wildlife trade, rampant habitat destruction for small-scale agriculture, mining and a proposed hydroelectric dam, the Batang Toru hydropower project, in the area with the highest density of orangutans have eclipsed the population, forcing it to fall drastically. Conservationists predict an 83% decline in three generations (75 years) if the necessary conservation measures and practices are not implemented.
In addition to that, orangutans are extremely slow breeders. Females have their first offspring at around 15 years of age, giving birth to one or two individuals every eight to nine years. All the threats combined, orangutans will disappear, taking forests along with them.

#KnowThemBetter #WildsplainingWithAkshita #wildsplaining

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#wildlifeart #wildlifepainting #wildlifeartist #scienceillustration #scienceart #natureartist #wildlifeillustration #naturalhistoryillustration #artistofinstagram #illustration #nature #scientificillustration #birding #species #sumatran #borneo #wildconservation #endangeredspecies #endangered #

Today's binomial is Spilornis cheela. 🦅

Thank you so much for your wishes on my last post. I'm doing well now, slowly getting back on my projects! ❤️
Here is a glimpse from my trip to Bandhavgarh with my partner in crime @kennethlawrencephotography

#Etymology #wildsplainingwithakshita #Wildsplain #Bandhavgarh #CentralIndia #MadhyaPradesh #Raptor #crestedserpenteagle #serpenteagle #spilornis #WildlifeArtist #safari #Binomial #BinomialMadeEasy

New skill unlocked: Vintage Lineart. I tried to preserve IUCN (@redlist_of_ecosystems) vintage 'Red Data Book' style in this illustration of two sexually dimorphic Three-Spot Seahorses.
Female (Left), Male (Right)

Etymology fact: trimaculatus (Latin) translates to three-spot, and many fish have this word as the latter half of their binomial name. This includes the three-spot wrasse (Halichoeres trimaculatus), three-spot angelfish (Apolemichthys trimaculatus), three-spot grouper (Epinephelus trimaculatus), three-spot grunter (Hephaestus trimaculatus), and three-spot barb (Enteromius trimaculatus), among others. There’s also a three-spot dung beetle (Scybalocanthon trimaculatus)! While these other three-spotted species are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List, the three-spot seahorse has the unfortunate distinction of being the only Vulnerable trimaculatus thus far. (h/t @projectseahorse )

#SeaHorse #marineart #scienceillustration #scienceart #natureartist #wildlifeillustration #naturalhistoryillustration #artistofinstagram #illustration #nature #scientificillustration #species #birdsofinstagram #wildlifeillustration #creatureconserve #Wildlifeart #EsperanceWildlife #KnowThemBetter #wildsplaining #wildsplainingwithakshita #Marinelife @inseasonfish

These limited edition paintings from my Eclipse Collection are being shipped to a client overseas. DM me to order a print. Only 50 copies will exist world wide. Hurry up before they're sold out. :)

#Eclipse #Wildlife #WildlifeIllustrations #Orangutan #tapanuliorangutan #Redpanda #endangered #archivalprint #limitededitionprints #scientificillustration #WildlifeConservatiom

"Creatures of my dreams, raise up and dance with me." 🐆

Here is one of current paintings I'm working on for a client — featuring two bigcats.

DM to purchase prints or commission personalized wildlife artworks, where you get to chose species of your choice.

Big thanks to my backbone @kennethlawrencephotography for creating this for me.

#wildlifeart #wildlifepainting #wildlifeartist #scienceillustration #scienceart #natureartist #wildlifeillustration #naturalhistoryillustration #artistofinstagram #illustration #nature #scientificillustration #wildconservation #endangeredspecies #endangered #wildlifeindanger #wildlife @photoshop @wacom @wacomindia @adobe

Steppe Lions (extinct) work-in-progress: It's always a pleasure to revisit old, forgotten paintings.
Someday, I'll finish this - not today, not tomorrow but someday.

Have to work on the stripes before I hop on to the mane. ;)

Fun fact: P. spelaea (Steppe lion) and P. leo (Modern lion) diverged about 1.89 million years ago.

#Extinct #Wildsplaining #WildsplainingWithAkshita #WildlifeArtist #WildlifeIllustrator #SteppeLion #CaveLion

When the 2 wildlifers switch their nature of work. 😂
Sharing a sight from the 'Heart of India'. 🐅

#TreeHouse #Hideaway #MadhyaPradesh #TigerCountry

Sharing unforgettable sighting from Tiger Country.

7A/7D (son) on a prowl to find meal.
Spotty (mother) petroling and scent marking her territory.

With the amazing @kennethlawrencephotography ❤️

#TigerCountry #Safari #Bandhavgarh #Tala #Tiger #behindthescenes #Wildlife #WildlifeConservatiom

Stripes, good read, and a warm cup of coffee — what else do you need in Tiger Country? 🐅

Reading 'The life of mammals' by David Attenborough

PC: @kennethlawrencephotography

#TigerCountry #Bandhavgarh #KingsLodge

Post safari machan birding was the cherry on the cake.
Sighted my first ever white-rumped shama and many lifers with @kennethlawrencephotography ❤️
Credit goes to our amazingly talented naturalist and fantastic tiger tracker @clicks_raju.

Experience shared at Kings Lodge, Pugdundee

Work from Jungle > ...

Pc: @kennethlawrencephotography

#WorkFromJungle #Bandhavgarh #KingsLodge #CentralIndia #TigerCountry

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BRINGING WILDLIFE CLOSE TO YOU

Prints
available

ÜBER ESPÉRANCE

Follow the journey on Instagram!

SCHREIEN SIE UNS AN

Anmeldeformular

BRINGING WILDLIFE CLOSE TO YOU

Prints available

ÜBER ESPÉRANCE

​

Follow the journey on Instagram!

SCHREIEN SIE UNS AN

Anmeldeformular

Prints
available