With their cute furry faces and docile nature, koalas looks set to become the poster boy in 2020 for card designers to illustrate the heart-rendering plight of the Australian bushfires’ wildlife and, on a deeper level, climate change.
It’s estimated that over 1 billion indigenous animals have perished in the recent Australian bushfires, with as many as 8,400 koalas perishing in NSW alone. On Kangaroo Island fires raged across nearly 50 percent of the 1,700-square-mile isle off South Australia, killing half the koalas on the island and destroying the animals’ habitat and food source.
As well as koalas and the destruction of nearly 11 million hectares of biodiversity, other species of native Australian wildlife such as wallabies, kangaroos, echidnas, wombats and more, may now be seriously imperiled,some near to extinction.
A number of card publishers have already designed their own take on these eucalyptus leaf-eating characters, and the affection for these adorable marsupials shines through.
Here are just a few examples of card designs celebrating this trend…
Jennifer Rose, artist for Jennifer Rose Gallery shares her personal view of the attraction of koalas and why they are climbing up the trend tree:“After a recent trip out to Australia it’s been heartbreaking to see so many beautiful animals and wildlife that’s been caught up in the devastation. Over the year I think we will certainly see a surge in artwork of the beautiful Australian wildlife as the devastation has touched so many hearts worldwide.
The creation of this artwork is in recognition to the outstanding wildlife and nature there is in the world and how precious it is – and to promote awareness that if lost like this it will be gone forever.
With my own business Jennifer Rose Gallery, I have created artworks on reflection of seeing some of these beautiful animals in their habitat, in particular the koalas as it was the first time I had seen one in real life from my recent visit.
Since placing my koala watercolour on social media, I have had so many responses and emails – just showing how much concern there is.
The sale from my original koala watercolour painting is being personally donated to the Bush Fire Relief Effort.”
Top: A thank you design from Lorna Syson.
