Carol McDougall

We asked the Robert Bateman Centre Gallery staff what species they would save.  We paired their answers in a video with thumbnail photos of Robert Bateman's art.  When we spoke to Robert Bateman, he said his biggest concern is the gradual reduction of songbirds.  We spoke about how migratory birds are affected by the loss of habitat.

Created especially for the Species at Risk project as an activity for summer camp participants.  Watch what happens when artists inspire each other.  

Chinese Brush style painting is an ancient style using simple ink strokes to represent nature.  This style was adapted to use with watercolour paints.  Following the three steps helps the painter notice the details of vertebrate amphibians while still creating an impressionist result.  The Great Basin Spadefoot Toad is a species at risk.

Animals like salmon and some birds rely on the stars to aid migration.  Show this by creating a silhouette subject on watercolour paper in permanent ink.  Add a constellation with a silver permanent pen.  Wash your wet paper with watercolour paint and and sprinkle with salt while still wet.  Ask people to consider the effects of light pollution.

Create a coastal habitat using construction paper, tracing paper and recycled postcards and/or calendars.  The background paper will become the sky and water.  Another colour of paper is used for tearing out mountains and  foreshore.  Tracing paper is layered to create a 'mist' effect.  Animals and plants are chosen to support the habitat.

Split shot habitat art looks like underwater photography where both the ocean and above ocean habitats are shown.  This pastel art project emphasizes the importance of the kelp forest, shoreline habitat of Northern Abalone.  This video shows the artistic steps to participate.

This was made on Botanical Beach. Create your own by filling in the shape of a species using found objects in nature.  Write the name of the species underneath and you, by doing so, have created awareness of its habitat. Choose a species at risk and you, and others, will better understand its importance.  Don't forget to take a photograph to share!