These beautiful sketches are part of Knysna artist Janet Forrest’s “100 Days” challenge to produce a different drawing each day for 100 days.

Janet told Knysna Travel that the 100 Days challenge is her second this year.

“At the beginning of the year I was inspired by people attempting to accomplish an ‘alcohol free February’ to do the same. Instead of a month, the number 100 kept coming to mind and hence I embarked on my first ’100 day’ journey… that of no alcohol. I loved the challenge and the results proved beneficial in every way… and so I viewed my 100 days as being positive, a personal progress.”

So Janet embarked on her second 100 day challenge. Her first sketch of a crowned eagle (above) was started as a birthday present for her partner Dennis Robson, with whom she started Radical Raptors, a non-profit rehabilitation centre just outside Knysna, that rescues, rehabilitates, then releases injured birds of prey.

That first sketch inspired Janet to dedicate her challenge to birds of prey.

Says Janet: “While sketching, my mind wandered to how hard Dennis has worked over the last two and a half years establishing Radical Raptors. Sure, I had helped but there is a passion that comes through when Dennis works with the birds and I wanted to find that for myself and be part of what we were involved with.”

Janet met Dennis in the Okavango Delta, Botswana, where he was running a lodge and guiding visitors on fishing and birding excursions into the Delta.

“I was doing a short work stint on an overland truck. When Dennis drove the boat carrying my group from our truck into his camp on our first visit, a fish eagle swooped down and flew alongside us the entire journey. I was captivated. A while later I joined Dennis living in the swamps during which time my love and appreciation for birds was instilled and we spent many hours observing these magnificence creatures in this extraordinary environment.

“This 100 day journey is a personally positive path, but one which I hope will draw attention to the plight and magnificence of birds of prey and their importance in our environment. At the end of the 100 days I hope to auction off the sketches and split the profits 50/50 with the centre in Knysna. The money raised will go towards an on-site weather-proof awareness/learning facility that can be used as a classroom or conference facility to house educational material and audio visual equipment.”

You can see Janet’s new sketches daily by following her page, 100 days, on Facebook.

Visit the Radical Raptors website www.radicalraptors.co.za