A Tale of the Kalahari Royalty Told On Canvas

Hey there, wild hearts,
Ever wondered what it's like to stand amidst a whispering, wild golden sea of grass, under the boundless blue sky, watching the royal assembly of lions in the Kalahari take a well-deserved break? Well, let me whisk you away through brushstrokes and lion roars to the world that inspired my latest painting,
"A Rest for the Blue Pride.”

Imagine reading a book so powerful that it compels you to pick up your palette and let your imagination roar across the canvas. I damn near booked a flight to Botswana as well. That was me after turning the last page of "Cry of the Kalahari" by the adventurous Mark and Delia Owens. This book is a beautifully crafted portal into the untamed heart of Africa, where every grain of sand has a story, and every sunset is a fiery curtain call for the day's drama.
As I read, I was entranced by the Owenses' tale of survival and conservation, their unyielding commitment to the African wilderness, mirroring the relentless spirit of the desert kings and queens they came to protect known as The Blue Pride. It struck a chord, and thus, it came to life under my brushes.
But this tale began long before, with a dream and a daring leap of faith. Mark and Delia, two souls ignited by the same fierce love for the wild, ventured into the unknown, driven by the simple yet profound quest to study animals in their natural habitat, undisturbed and unscripted by human interference. They sought to understand, to learn, and ultimately to contribute to the preservation of a place and its inhabitants that the world often forgets is still here.With every chapter, I found myself journeying alongside them, feeling the grit of the Kalahari dust and the thrill of discovery. They didn’t just observe—they became part of the rhythm of life in the African desert, their stories intertwined with the manes and muscles of the pride they admired.

But who are these majestic beasts lounging in my painting? They're not your everyday safari poster stars. The 'Blue Pride' is a family of lions with members like “Blue”, “Sassy” and “Bones”, each darted and tagged with blue tag for identification, and each with a gaze that tells tales of the Kalahari's whispers and roars. They are the embodiment of the desert's soul - wild, free, and untamed as the terrain they reign over.

In the golden hues and the deep, shadowy blues, I've tried to capture the essence of their home: a land of extremes, of breathtaking beauty and brutal challenges. The Owens faced these same extremes with nothing but their courage and a tent to call home. And just like them, the Blue Pride exudes a sense of serene strength, even in repose.

Now, as you gaze upon "A Rest for the Blue Pride," let your imagination stretch across the savannah. Feel the heat that rises in waves from the earth, hear the secrets whispered by the wind. This is where legends live and breathe, where every print in the sand has a story, where the heartbeat of Africa finds its echo in the roar of the lion.Through this painting, I invite you to join that chorus of roars and whispers, to become part of a story larger than all of us – the wild, beating heart of the Kalahari.

So, lace up your boots, grab your binoculars, and join me in a salute to the wild. Let's not just watch, but also listen and learn. Because, in the end, we're all part of this intricate tapestry of life.

Stay wild, my friends.
-D.W. Lorenz-
​