Pangolin: Purbrick

Charcoal on Fabriano| A3

This charcoal work on Fabriano paper presents Purbrick as a contemplative study of a pangolin, focusing on the animal’s distinctive form and layered natural armour. The intricate scales are built through expressive charcoal mark-making, creating a textured surface that shifts between softness and density.

The composition balances realism with atmosphere, allowing areas of detail to emerge from broader tonal fields. Light and shadow move across the form in a way that gives the pangolin a sculptural, almost timeless presence, while still holding onto its quiet fragility.

Purbrick (The Pangolin) reflects themes of protection, vulnerability, and quiet strength, inviting the viewer to consider the delicate survival of one of nature’s most unique creatures.