Hannah Thayn

Gemsbok in Grasslands | Watercolor 2025

In a sea of tan and drab greens, the horizon is broken up by a sudden pop of stark black and white. A gemsbok buck stands proud in his arid homeland watching for competing bucks or hidden lions. The gemsbok is a powerful symbol of the beauty in resilience. Living is harsh aird deserts, these large hoofstock seem to effortlessly climb sandy dunes and travel tremendous distances for water. Their highly contrasting black and white coat with tall horns makes them a magnificent subject of study. A shorter coat allows the artist to appreciate the muscular anatomy gracefully indicated by the complexities bright sunlight across the skin.

Hannah is a student at the College of Veterinary Medicine.