AFRICAN WILDLIFE IN ACRYLIC & INK
GALLERY
ORIGINAL WORK
Steady Watch
A bust portrait of an African wild dog set against a muted sepia background. Rendered in acrylic, the work focuses on the animal’s steady gaze, highlighting its distinctive markings and quiet intensity.
Original drawing
Drawn To Water
A drawing of a young elephant walking toward water, capturing a moment of curiosity and gentle movement. Fine line work emphasizes the softness of youth and the quiet determination of the animal as it approaches the water’s edge
original painting
Satara Plains
Satara Plains depicts three zebras grazing beside a lone lead wood tree, capturing a moment of calm balance between wildlife and the open plains.
Artist Biography
Johnathan Patterson is a South African artist based in White River, Mpumalanga (Born 1983 East Rand, Springs) whose work explores the emotional and atmospheric connection between wildlife, landscape, and place. Self-taught, with a strong appreciation for fine art and art history, Johnathan's practice is rooted in intuition, observation, and a deep engagement with the natural world.
His work spans two distinct yet interconnected bodies of work. The first is a unique drawing practice defined by fluid, squiggle-like linework, through which animals emerge in an expressive and distilled form. Rather than focusing on realism, these drawings aim to capture the intent, energy, and essential character of each subject.
The second body of work consists of acrylic landscape paintings inspired by the African environment. Working with earthy yet bold colour palettes, Patterson frequently depicts storm-filled skies and iconic acacia trees, capturing the charged atmosphere of weather moving across the African plains. His paintings focus on conveying mood and feeling as much as physical space.
Across both mediums, Johnathan’s work seeks to foster a sense of connection inviting viewers to slow down, reflect, and reconnect with the power and presence of nature and wildlife.