a bit about koala therapy
Drawing koalas is something I have loved doing since I was a kid. This unique Australian animal continues to fascinate and inspire me.
In recent years health issues have had a huge impact on my life and work. Thanks to the love and care of my family and health professionals I am learning to live within this new reality. The daily rhythm of drawing koalas has opened up a way of relaxing and it has become a type of therapy and an obsession for me — a life giving one.
The products I create come out of my “koala therapy”. My hope is that others can find some joy from these creations while also highlighting such a wonderful animal and the very real dangers they face as their habitats are impacted upon.
Thanks so much for your support of this fun little venture.
about this crazy cool animal
Koalas are marsupials, (ie. a species whose young are carried in a pouch). Other well-known marsupials include kangaroos, wallabies, and wombats.
Koalas can seem so cute, calm and relaxed. Don’t be fooled though, they can be very disgruntled and even aggressive when disturbed. They do gather in what is known as “home ranges”, but they very much prefer to be alone. Koalas can sleep for 16-20 hours a day. They need their rest so that they can conserve energy to eat. They are fussy eaters, but the gum leaves they eat are not highly nutritious, so they eat a heap to fill up. There is an urban myth that koalas get “drunk or high” on gum leaves and that’s why they sleep so much; but it’s not true, koalas sleep to save energy.
Unfortunately, koalas are constantly under threat. This threat has intensified with extreme bushfires devastating many of their habitats. Lots of koalas have been lost to these fires. Other ongoing threats are caused by us. Development, unsecured pets and vehicles all pose significant danger.
Because of their temperament and behavioural habits, koalas lend themselves to fun caricatures.