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I feel really lucky to have had the chance to paint the California condor for the Endangered Ark card deck.
I feel even more lucky to have had the chance to see them in the wild. But most of all, I feel luckiest that I was born in world where thanks to the dedicated efforts of a few determined individuals, I can still drive down the 1 in California and catch a fleeting glimpse of one of the coolest birds to ever grace the skies.
In 1987, there were only 22 Californian condors left in the world. The folks at the San Diego Wild Animal Park and the Los Angeles zoo caught all of the remaining birds in an effort to conserve the species. Through their selective breeding and release program, they have risen the population to 327 birds, over half of which are in the wild today.
I feel even more lucky to have had the chance to see them in the wild. But most of all, I feel luckiest that I was born in world where thanks to the dedicated efforts of a few determined individuals, I can still drive down the 1 in California and catch a fleeting glimpse of one of the coolest birds to ever grace the skies.
In 1987, there were only 22 Californian condors left in the world. The folks at the San Diego Wild Animal Park and the Los Angeles zoo caught all of the remaining birds in an effort to conserve the species. Through their selective breeding and release program, they have risen the population to 327 birds, over half of which are in the wild today.
Category Artwork (Traditional) / All
Species Avian (Other)
Size 580 x 818px
File Size 152.8 kB
Yeah, I remember seeing my first wild Californian Condor when I was 14 staying around the Santa Barbara area, truly a magnificent bird that was saved to be relished by another generation first hand. Not the written narration of some "professional" as the last bird to ever live remains as a stuffed memento in his office, it's memory fading away into the pages of history
There are times where I look at the world, and I despair. I see children starving while those in charge feast, I see honest people's savings ruined by shysters they trusted. I see forests destroyed. I see factories billowing out smoke. I see bits and pieces of the world dying, with humanity as the driving force even as itself is consumed by it's own powers of destruction.
And then I stop.
And I see the other side.
Here, I see untouched wilderness, and those who defend it. I see those who are hurt and injured being helped by people who cannot truely say why they are there, other than they are needed. There are lights, and power for hospitals, for police stations, for theater, so that we may be better.
I see a world where you feel Death has his bony grip on your shoulder, when you look up into the face of a compasionate stranger who says "Hang on, we've got you."
I see a world were Fate has said: "THIS WILL BE!", and then there are people, of the same race and tribe as those who are destroying the world, bit by bit, and say:
"Not if we can help it."
Often, they fail. They can be too few, sometimes, or maybe they - well, there are many things that can lead to failure.
But we live in a world where they succeed, too.
And then I stop.
And I see the other side.
Here, I see untouched wilderness, and those who defend it. I see those who are hurt and injured being helped by people who cannot truely say why they are there, other than they are needed. There are lights, and power for hospitals, for police stations, for theater, so that we may be better.
I see a world where you feel Death has his bony grip on your shoulder, when you look up into the face of a compasionate stranger who says "Hang on, we've got you."
I see a world were Fate has said: "THIS WILL BE!", and then there are people, of the same race and tribe as those who are destroying the world, bit by bit, and say:
"Not if we can help it."
Often, they fail. They can be too few, sometimes, or maybe they - well, there are many things that can lead to failure.
But we live in a world where they succeed, too.
Humanity is a disease.
Humanity is a cure.
It's a blessing and a curse. One can point to all the wrongs that we as a race have done to the world and our selves.
...and one can point to all the glorious things we have done to the world and our selves. Some of our battles have been to combat the effects that we are having on this world, yes. And some have not.
We live in a world where we can converse and communicate with people across all seven continents. We live in a world where men can sail across the world, where men can cross barriers, where men can fly to the moon.
Any man or woman can, should they put their minds to it.
For every Pol Pot or Hitler, there's a Mother Teresa or Ghandi. For every Kaiser Wilhelm that wanted a War to End All Wars, there is a Czar Nicolas who worked to better his people and espouse peace.
That is humanity's curse. That is humanity's gift.
Humanity is a cure.
It's a blessing and a curse. One can point to all the wrongs that we as a race have done to the world and our selves.
...and one can point to all the glorious things we have done to the world and our selves. Some of our battles have been to combat the effects that we are having on this world, yes. And some have not.
We live in a world where we can converse and communicate with people across all seven continents. We live in a world where men can sail across the world, where men can cross barriers, where men can fly to the moon.
Any man or woman can, should they put their minds to it.
For every Pol Pot or Hitler, there's a Mother Teresa or Ghandi. For every Kaiser Wilhelm that wanted a War to End All Wars, there is a Czar Nicolas who worked to better his people and espouse peace.
That is humanity's curse. That is humanity's gift.
Yes wonderful isn't it.
The world needs more people like you, who can see both sides, and who sees the potential and the curse in our humanity. Many people pick a side and stick to it... all good... or all bad... and don't do anything to add to the good or stop the bad. They try to break things into black and white, right and wrong, etc... when the world is in color, diverse, and potentially an awesome, or terrible place to be. A reality that we have to make as we want. And the real problem i think is that there are the mother Teresa's and Ghandi's and Jesus' out there working all alone against the Hitler's and Stalin's whom are taking advantage of the 65% of the human race that shuts their eyes, puts their fingers in their ears and shuts off their brains.
And speaking of good humans... this piece is incredible. I think i have more of blotch's pieces favorited than any other artist.b
The world needs more people like you, who can see both sides, and who sees the potential and the curse in our humanity. Many people pick a side and stick to it... all good... or all bad... and don't do anything to add to the good or stop the bad. They try to break things into black and white, right and wrong, etc... when the world is in color, diverse, and potentially an awesome, or terrible place to be. A reality that we have to make as we want. And the real problem i think is that there are the mother Teresa's and Ghandi's and Jesus' out there working all alone against the Hitler's and Stalin's whom are taking advantage of the 65% of the human race that shuts their eyes, puts their fingers in their ears and shuts off their brains.
And speaking of good humans... this piece is incredible. I think i have more of blotch's pieces favorited than any other artist.b
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -Edmund Burke, 1729-1797
Certainly one of the classics. It's a sentiment that's all too easy to lose sight of - not always out of any malice. Sometimes, it's easy to get overwhelmed, to feel like nothing one could do would help.
But at the end of the day... I have to salute the people who try anyway. Even when they're being criticized for their failures - at least they tried.
Certainly one of the classics. It's a sentiment that's all too easy to lose sight of - not always out of any malice. Sometimes, it's easy to get overwhelmed, to feel like nothing one could do would help.
But at the end of the day... I have to salute the people who try anyway. Even when they're being criticized for their failures - at least they tried.
Yes - if you take a look at the parrot card for example, you will find information and links. Eventually every species will have this info filled in. It's not really meant to be an animal encyclopedia - but more interesting/little known facts, tidbits, stories and references of how to learn more. :)
But it begs the question, is what we are doing 'natural'? After all, this is going against Darwin's theory of evolution. As we find many species are becoming extinct, we also find several new species appearing through evolution (granted, probably not as many that become extinct.) Although more likely than than not, humans are responsible for of the extinction, endangerment or threatened of several species, we have also found many species able to co-exist along with man. I guess it comes down to 'are we preserving a species that was destine to die out anyways?' It's not specific to the condor -- I'm fairly certain that was man's doing, but what about other species? Should we 'preserve' maned lions when lions become mane-less?
On a personal note, but for example, I know pandas are considered sacred in some countries and are endangered but I think we should let those little *****s die out. If you're dumb enough to abandon your own young on top of eating only one kind of food, then you deserve to be extinct.
I'm not trying belittle the efforts of conservationists, nor attacking anyone, I am just trying to pose an interesting question and concept.
On a personal note, but for example, I know pandas are considered sacred in some countries and are endangered but I think we should let those little *****s die out. If you're dumb enough to abandon your own young on top of eating only one kind of food, then you deserve to be extinct.
I'm not trying belittle the efforts of conservationists, nor attacking anyone, I am just trying to pose an interesting question and concept.
I love this piece especially because without even reading the description, I took one look at the background and said to myself, "Hey, that's PCH!" I too absolutely love driving Hwy 1 along California's coast where I was born and raised. San Simeon is one of my favorite spots along that route. Thank you for doing such a wonderful job on this one Blotch, it came out fantastic as usual. I'd love to see more of your work specifically featuring California and all its beauty. But then, I am slightly biased of course. :P
I love condors. I am so happy that they are being saved by the efforts of attentive environmentalists and passionate people like yourself. Every time I go to the zoo here in Denver, I am saddened to see our single condor, but I am happy to think that he might help their species survive to a new and better future.
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