I've crafted this sketchbook specially for my trip to Zanzibar in early 2021, it features linocut printed linen for the cover. The body of the sketchbook consisted of two blocks of paper, one made from Fabriano watercolor paper and the other from Canson marker paper. To bind the sketchbook together, I used a yellow nylon string.
the inside cover is decorated with marbled paper; i enjoyed making this sketchbook!
i'm very interested in seeing as many tropical pigeons as possible; a month prior to the trip i did a bit of research on what birds are native to the island. also, i've planned my wardrobe and roughly mapped our route
This is my first trip to Zanzibar, or any African country, so everything is new and amazing. The thing that has struck me the most about the local design is the strong similarities in the construction of things. For instance, there are only 2 or 3 chair designs that are repeated, and you won't find anything different throughout the whole island. These designs are passed down to younger craftsmen from older relatives or teachers, and they are almost never altered in the process. Here is a sketch of a chair design that features cow skin and a fabric cushion on a vine.
My watercolors melted due to the intense equatorial heat, resulting in yellow streaks of Mars all over both the box and the pencil case in which I stored them. Therefore, this spread is an attempt at upcycling.
A sighting of the Pemba green pigeon! This species was the primary objective of our entire trip. It is endemic to Pemba Island, rare in general, and native to a densely forested area known as Ngezi. Our guide expressed concern that we may not spot them at all. However, we were fortunate enough to stumble upon some ripe palm fruits (another endemic to Pemba) which these pigeons absolutely adore. We patiently waited for the flock to arrive and indulge in this treat. And indeed, they did! We had the pleasure of observing six green pigeons emerge from the forest just before sunset. They proceeded to feed on the fruit for approximately 10 minutes before swiftly retiring to tall trees.
Another lucky sighting was these lemur relatives, the galagos. In Pemba, they are everywhere the trees grow. They start vocalizing the minute it gets dark, and you can hear their outcries until dawn. Not surprisingly, this group turned out to be super noisy neighbors! Every night, they trot on the roof, arguing with each other.
Galagos are omnivores. We lured them onto the balcony with some ripe bananas. The skittish critters enjoyed the treat, while we observed them from the darkness of the room – any light would make them flee. This presented a unique opportunity for sketching and taking a few pictures.
A moringa tree leaf and fruit.
On the left, there is a fish that has washed up on the shore. I liked the pattern of octagonal scales on it. Additionally, there is a flower-pecker or a sunbird perched on a hibiscus flower.
On the right is a crowned hornbill. These birds were frequent guests in the hotel garden; we saw them almost every day. When it rained, they sought shelter under the roof of the restaurant. Their calls are remarkably similar to those of a kingfisher, and I often mistook one for the other.
