“The animal I draw, I always first see in my thoughts. Sometimes for days or weeks on end. Over and over again the animal will appear. As soon as I’ve painted the animal, the next animal appears in my thoughts. There are always animals waiting in line to be drawn.”

”I draw the animal’s eyes first. The eyes are the window to the soul, both for man and for animal. However, it is almost impossible to look into the eyes of an animal. We don’t have that opportunity and most animals won’t allow it. What do the animal eyes tell us? This is the journey of discovery I experience when drawing an animal. Animals are dependent on nature, yet at the same time they are not capable of protecting the nature from human intervention. Through my drawings the animal is offered a moment to intrusively look at man, and vice versa.”

“With every painting there is a brief moment for me, when the animal suddenly comes to life through the eyes. It stares at me from the paper and at that very moment my heart makes a small jump.”

Her love for the animals is also characterised by the immense concern that many animals won’t be around for future generations. Meanwhile, many wild animals are on the Red List of the International Union for Conservation (IUCN).

Deforestation, poaching, climate change; all these and more contribute to the extinction of many indigenous species of animal.

“Many wild animals are no longer able to protect themselves. Their habitat is becoming smaller and smaller through large-scale deforestation. It is man that is causing all of this and it is also man that is solely capable of guarding over the animals by leaving their habitat in peace and protecting it. To stop the hunt for ‘animal trophies’ and take care for the wellbeing of the animals and all that lives on earth.”

Drawing is my way of honoring the animals and acknowledging their important role in our nature; I would love nothing more than to, no matter how small, make a contribution to the conservation and protection of the animals. We, as humans, are responsible for the conservation of our planet that is here for the animals and the humans. The way it’s been going can’t carry on. We are on the brink.

The extremely detailed eyes of the animals that Rozanne draws often form the centerpiece of her drawing. By means of her drawings, Rozanne, in her own way, wants to give the animals a voice.

Her special edition “HOPE” shows a close-up of a diversity of animal eyes, that look the viewer straight in the eye.

Portrait of Bill Hayes, Founder of the Red Mountain Eagle Pow Wow Arizona.