Gallery
Competition theme: Fantastic Creatures
For thousands of years animals, both real and imagined, have appeared in art from around the world. The ancient Egyptians depicted their gods with animal features, the Greeks told tales of winged horses and strange half-human creatures, and explorers brought back sketches of exotic animals seen on their travels. Today’s artists and designers continue to draw inspiration from the animal kingdom.
Schools are invited to explore this theme by visiting the Bell Pettigrew Museum of Natural History or by using the resources on this page in the classroom.
Images of the University’s collections
Animals in the Bell Pettigrew Museum
Click on the thumbnails to download large versions of each image in a pdf document.
| 1. Coral:
Normally found in the shallows of tropical seas. Coral reefs have existed on Earth for over 200 million years. |
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 | 2. Nautilus:
Found in the deep slopes of coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific Oceans. The species has survived for millions of years and is often considered a living fossil. |
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3. Octopus:
Found around the world in rocks and crevices in the sea floor, especially in coral reefs. An octopus can detach its own limbs when under attack and regrow them! |
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4. Northern Jacana:
Found in the wetlands of Central America, from Mexico to Panama. Its long legs and huge feet allow it to balance on floating vegetation such as water lilies and reeds. |
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5. Pangolin:
Prefers dry zones with little vegetation and preferably sandy ground. Found in East Africa, Central and Southern Africa, India and South East Asia. The pangolin gets its name from a Malaysian word for “rolling into a ball,” which is what the pangolin does to protect itself from enemies. |
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6. Ox:
Found all around the world, the ox is descended from wild cattle which were domesticated 8,500 years ago. According to Chinese zodiac tradition, people born in the Year of the Ox are patient, speak little, and inspire confidence in others, but can be very stubborn. |
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7. Porcupine Fish:
Lives in coral and rocky reefs in tropical and temperate oceans throughout the world. Also known as a blowfish, balloonfish or globefish because of its ability to inflate its body when under attack. |
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8. Flying Lizard:
Found in Malaysia. Two wing-like flaps of skin let it glide from tree to tree to avoid danger. |
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9. Crimson Topaz:
Found in the Amazon, especially in the narrow strips of forest along rivers. These hummingbirds, measuring from 18 to 23 cm, are the second largest species of hummingbirds, which are usually between 7 and 13 cm. |
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10. Himalayan Cat-bear (Red Panda):
Unique to the temperate forests of the Himalayas, ranging from western Nepal to China. The Red Panda has hair on the soles of its feet to keep it warm on the snow and stop it sliding around on ice. In the summer these hairy paws also help the panda get a grip on slippery wet branches. |
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11. Pichy-ciego or Mailed Mole:
Found in the dry grasslands and sandy plains of central Argentina, the pichy-ciego is the smallest species of armadillo, approximately 3.5 to 4.5 inches long. The large front claws and shielded head allow it to swim through sand as if through water. It has the ability to bury itself in a number of seconds when threatened. |
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12. Morpho Aega Butterfly:
Found in Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil. Named after Aega, a daughter of the ancient Greek sun god Helios. Aega was so dazzlingly bright that the Titans in their attack upon Olympus became frightened and requested that their mother Gaia conceal Aega in the earth. |
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Discussion Points
- Look closely at these animals. Do they have feathers, fur, scales or something else? What would they feel like to touch? Can you think of any materials you could use to create a picture or sculpture of your favourite animal?
- What colour are the animals? Why do you think they are that colour? Can you tell by the colour what sort of environment they might live in?
Animals in Art
These images are sourced from the University of St Andrews’ fine art and ethnographic collections. The original artworks range in date from the 1800s to the present day.
Click on the thumbnails to download large versions of each image in a pdf document.
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13. Black Cat, HC432
by Elizabeth V. Blackadder, charcoal drawing, 1977 . Notice the lifelike pose of the cat and the way the artist has used her materials to make it look soft enough to stroke. |
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14. Drago, HC1995.3(5)
by Ian Howard, etching, 1993-4 . Look closely at the drawing and notice the different animals the artist has combined to create this dragon-like creature. |
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16. Painting on glass,
ET25(4):
Depicts Brahma, the Hindu god of creation, from 19th century Southern India. Brahma is depicted here with a giant swan as his vehicle, a symbol of grace and perception. |
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17. Ceramic bull from Pucara, Peru, ET0:
Clay models of bulls have been made in Pucara since horses and cattle were first introduced to South America by the Spanish in the sixteenth century. They tend to be made in moulds in one piece. |
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Discussion Points
- What animals do you see in these artworks? Why do you think the artists chose to depict those animals?
- What techniques to the artists use to show fur or feathers?
- Do the animals look lifelike? Are they in motion? How does the artist show this?
Other sources of inspiration
The following artists and designers may provide ideas for possible approaches to the competition theme:
Artists
- Abstract painting featuring animal bones and shells – Georgia O’Keeffe
- Collage – Paul Bartlett
- Impasto Paintings – Vincent Van Gogh
- Printmaking and ceramics – Picasso, Elizabeth Blackadder
- Sculpture – Antoine-Louis Barye
- Wildlife photography – Art Wolfe
- Mythical creatures – Ian Howard
- Jungle scenes – Henri Rousseau
- Aboriginal bark paintings
Designers
- Tessellations – M.C. Escher
- Graphic Design – Paul Rand
- Ceramics, tile design, vessels and low relief – Kate Malone, Griselda Hill
- Textiles – Marimekko, Timorous Beasties
- Jewellery – Adam Paxon, Peter Chang, Nora Fok
- Body Adornment – Philip Treacy
- Fashion Design – Issey Miyake, Elsa Shiaparelli
- Stained Glass – Dale Chihuly, e.g. Seaforms series
Please note that all images on this website are copyright of the University of St Andrews or the artist and may only be downloaded and printed for teaching purposes.
