Inspiration: Our local adorable prickle Edwina has had another adventure! This time she had scoped out the base of an old gum tree near the sheds and while she sniffed out most of her lunch there was one last ant standing. A rather short and precise battle played out that reminded me of a David and Goliath story… but I think in this case it had a rather different ending. With Edwina still the reigning champion, I had to give credit to the brave little fella who didn’t go down without a fight!

Recognised by its sharp spines, short legs, and long snout; the Short-beaked Echidna can be found across diverse and remote habitats including rainforests, dry deserts, and alpine regions. They have powerful digging claws that they use to tear open insect nests and mounds. They have a long and sticky tongue perfectly designed to gather their preferred food source of ants and termites. Predation from introduced species, vehicular strike, and land clearing continue as major threats to this native species.

This piece forms part of a themed collection that is focused on protected, threatened, and endangered Australian species. Through the expansion of European settlement, many species have been displaced by human encroachment, changing fire patterns, victims of predation, or have been exposed to disease. Raising awareness remains as the most significant challenge in the effort to reduce these possible outcomes. These represent the absence of the existence of wildlife in their natural environments.

This series has specifically utilised heat, flame, and soot to achieve the varying golden browns and charcoal greys present in the finished artwork.