A skulk of foxes.

Hello my fox brothers and sisters,

As a child, I loved Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr. Fox, and if I had a copy of it still (I borrowed it often from the school library), I’m sure I’d enjoy leafing through its pages today.

"Well, my darling," said Mr. Fox. "What shall it be tonight?"

"I think we’ll have duck tonight," said Mrs Fox.

"Bring us two fat ducks, if you please. One for you and me, and one for the children."

"Ducks it shall be!" said Mr Fox.

I am terribly fond of foxes, though most of the foxes I know come from the pages of books or fairy tales. From Yuri Norstein’s beautiful Fox and Rabbit (1975), a retelling of an ancient Russian folk tale, to Beatrix Potter’s The Tale of Mr. Tod (“He was of a wandering habit and he had foxey whiskers; they never knew where he would be next.”), foxes are clever, cunning and handsome, and their eyes glisten.

ЛИСА И ЗАЯЦ (Part I)




ЛИСА И ЗАЯЦ (Part II)




(An English translation of sorts can be found here.)

So foxes it is, a skulk of foxes to set this blog on its merry path. For those curious, a group of foxes can also be referred to as a lead or a leash of foxes, and there ends our English lesson. Roll on with the visuals, starting with Louise's white, silver, red and blue foxes which have been fashioned into fur garments.


{Wishing we were still a skulk, I. Watercolour and pencil drawing, Louise Jennison.}



{Wishing we were still a skulk, II. Watercolour and pencil drawing, Louise Jennison.}



{The door was open but we decided to stay (detail). Digital collage, Gracia Haby.}



{I don't think we're all of us going to fit in there. Digital collage, Gracia Haby.}



{A happy band of skulkers. Pencil drawing, Elaine Haby.}


{Looking for a fat hen. Pencil drawing, Elaine Haby.}