There is a distinct stillness when you encounter a fox in the wild. It lasts only a brief second before they move on, but in that moment, their focus is absolute. That alert, fleeting glance is what I wanted to capture here.
Rather than focusing on a perfectly smooth representation of fur, I wanted the brushwork to convey the energy of the animal and its environment. The texture is deliberate and thick, built up using loose, layered strokes of ochre, deep terracotta, and flashes of cream. By leaving the marks visible and somewhat raw, the form feels alive, as if it is still emerging from the background.
The background itself is kept simple—soft yellows and muted greens that suggest the dappled light of the countryside without distracting from the subject. The challenge was balancing the warm, bright tones of the coat with the cooler, quieter tones of the landscape, allowing the fox’s gaze to hold the centre of the piece. It is less about creating a precise photographic likeness and more about capturing a quiet, living presence.