Artist: Geraldine Simmons

Species: Homo conscious

Websites:

“When I draw wildlife I see more than just the animal – I see a soul.”

Geri lives with her family in Collaroy on Sydney’s northern beaches. Her surroundings are abuzz with the colour and noise of local wildlife. Possums, rainbow lorikeets and kookaburras visit her backyard often while she may spot a brief sighting of a wallaby or lyrebird on one of her very early morning bike rides. Experiences such as these provide the inspiration for her work in pastel, coloured pencil and gouache. Geri has evolved these mediums over a number of years to capture the nature and essence that bring each animal to life.

In her hometown of London, England, Geri' s father nurtured her young artistic spirit by encouraging her to draw everything around her. After graduating from a Melbourne boarding school, Geri pursued other paths. Fifteen years later, a near fatal push bike accident woke her up to her true calling. While she was recuperating on a couch at home, she saw a Kookaburra outside her window gently picking it's way across her lawn. The image called to her, and she once again felt the pull of her colored pencils. With the power of magnets, this inspiration drew her back into the innocence and power of animals in their natural world.

One of Geri’s most profound and awe-inspiring experiences was traveling to the remote areas of Indonesia to witness the orangutans – our closest cousins, in their natural habitat in the deep jungles of Borneo. As a witness and intent observer of their behavior, seeing how they survive in their environment helped her appreciate their great intelligence, adaptability and resilience. Some things made her laugh and some things made her cry and since that trip she has brought home a lasting impression that she aspires to portray in all of her works of art.

No Trees, No Me

This print was selected for the "2012 Artists For Conservation"
exhibition and hard cover book

This amazing wildlife artwork is available for sale!

We have a selection of Geraldine Simmon's prints here in London!

We would be so happy if they could find a lovely home where they can be fully appreciated. The funds raised will go towards supporting essential conservation work in Aceh - Please view and sign petition at http://www.change.org/saveaceh

This is what the artist would like to offer, as stated by Geri:

No Tree, No Me and The Eyes Say It All - £800 each
Jodie, Man of the Jungle, Chimp and Spider - £600 each.

60% will be donated towards the cause in Aceh and the rest will go to Whale of a Time Artist Geraldine Simmons and Whale of a Time in order to cover costs and postage.

Please view large images of the prints by clicking on the images.

Please get in touch if you would like to buy the prints and support the Sumatran orangutans!

Going ape! :)

www.goingape.org

The Eyes Say it All

This painting of an orang-utan was selected for the 2012 Artists For Conservation virtual exhibition and book. View riding-for-rangas.blogspot.com.au where for the past three years Geri has organised and participated in this ride to raise awareness and funds for the orangutans of Borneo via FNPF.

Man of the Jungle

Jodie

It was my third day on site at the Friends of the National Parks Foundation in Borneo and I was invited to visit quarantine where sick and rehabilitating orang-utans stay until they are well enough to go back into the wild.
I thought to myself how do they stand the heat and humidity with all that fur as my clothes were sticking to my body and sweat was rolling down my face. The air felt so thick, heavy and steamy yet as I walked towards one of the cages the thick, steamy air suddenly became easier to breathe as I was captivated by the cutest most loving big brown eyes I had ever seen.
I asked my hostess and project manager (Yen) of Friends of the National Parks Foundation all about this beautiful baby orang-utan who caught my eye that was about 12 months old. Her name was Jodie and evidently she contracted tuberculosis. I found that hard to believe as she swung and jumped around the cage full of energy looking as cheeky as ever and giving a toothy smile, as she swung past.
In the next cage there were two male orang-utans who were older than Jodie but still young. As I approached the bars of the cage one of them lent towards me and grabbed my hand and pulled it towards him between the bars. He looked at my hand as to study it and compare it to his own, as though we were the same but not quite.
His hand was warm and his palm felt rough and well padded like a leather cushion. His fur was thick and course that felt like thin wire with beautiful auburn highlights through it that sparkled when caught by the light of the sun. I was so amazed by his curiosity and persistence to study my hand. When he finally let go the other orang-utan came over and pulled my hand in just like the other only with more force. This one wouldn’t let go for quite a while and was more interested in playing than studying my hand. I guess that goes to show how individual they are.
It was time to leave as Yen called me over to get back for lunch. There was a lot planned for the rest of the afternoon yet this experience of seeing the orang-utans up close will remain with me for the rest of my life.
When I returned home to Australia I received a sad email from Yen to say that Jodie had passed away from her disease… I’ll never forget those warm brown eyes…..

A Chimp and a Spider

Tree Top

Koalas were once in abundance on the northern beaches in Sydney where
I live but now sadly they are all gone due to urbanization.

This artwork has been featured in the February 2103 edition of Wildlife
Rescue magazine.