27th October 2025 Beena
I noticed something while I was painting this mother-and-daughter pair of giraffes. The pattern on their bodies isn’t random. I needed to focus carefully on how those markings should be placed to get the contours of their bodies right. So, I decided to use ink first before applying paint. I had to position the shadows correctly, as they have long necks that cast shadows on their bodies. But I loved leaving the white of the paper as socks.
The patches on giraffes are not just for show. They are unique to each type of giraffe, with the Masai ones featuring a puzzle-like pattern. These patterns play a vital role as thermoregulators. In scorching heat, more blood flows to these patches, helping to dissipate heat. Conversely, in cold weather, the blood vessels in these patches constrict, aiding the giraffe in retaining heat. The spots also act as a form of camouflage, allowing them to blend seamlessly with their natural surroundings. And the best part? The calves inherit these patterns from their mothers, providing a unique way of tracking their family lines.
Observing the animal world, I couldn’t help but wonder – they don’t need a registry to track ancestry, isn’t that fascinating? The non-random patterns in the animal kingdom raise the question – how does this compare to the human world? Are our systems truly as random as they seem? Let me know your thoughts.