OCA drawing 1.1

This first exercise asks you to devise a range of situations with a view to exploring narrative through a series of five observational studies. At least one of these situations will be explored again in Exercise 3.

“The important thing is the the effect it had on the imagination” (Howeson, 2024)

I began to feel bogged down by the weight of the project.  5 observational studies.  Theatrical, prescriptive.  I felt adverse to drawing something topographical.
I wanted to draw the essence or energy that an event holds.  There is always an unseen content to excavate from an scene.
I took a hike, the act of climbing up the mountainside mentally and physically rises you above limiting thoughts.
As I reached the last meadow before the landscape becomes too steep for pasture, my dog started winding up.
There was something in the grass by the waterfall that really had his attention.
I walked over and the scene revealed itself.  A wolf attack on a roe deer.  The deer lay dead in a flattened area of long grass and wildflowers.  Recognisable and serene until you got to the ribcage which was fully exposed and nothing remaining of the middle body.

I leashed my dog and together we tracked the whole event around the meadow.  Thanks to the spring grass a clear track was carved out.  It weaved from the right side of the cops, where the wolves had no doubt appeared from and begun their assault on the grazing deer.
There was fur and ripped skin marking the trail of the take down, up to the final spot where the deer lay dead.
I assumed that by the circling notion of the tracks that there was more than one wolf at work.  And I was later told by the ranger (who came to collect the carcass) that a pack of eight wolves had been logged on the observation camera two nights ago in this area.

Now I had my story.

List of Images

Cover Image Flockhart, K. (2025) Wolf & Deer Connect. [Charcoal on paper, photo edited with Hipstamatic] In possession of: The author: Volleges.

Fig.1 Flockhart, K. (2025) Study 1. [Charcoal on paper] In possession of: The author: Volleges.

Fig.2 Flockhart, K. (2025) Study 2. [Charcoal on paper] In possession of: The author: Volleges.

Fig.3 Flockhart, K. (2025) Study 3. [Charcoal on paper] In possession of: The author: Volleges.

Fig.4 Flockhart, K. (2025) Study 4. [Charcoal on paper] In possession of: The author: Volleges.

Fig.5 Flockhart, K. (2025) Watercolour studies. [Wtercolour on paper] In possession of: The author: Volleges.