Traditional Christmas Penguin Design

Traditional Christmas Penguin Card Design.

There's nothing quite like penguins wearing woolly hats to bring in some festive spirit. This is another from my penguin-themed designs for Christmas.

Penguins in Woolly Hats

Although they are not British wildlife to be found naturally living in Britain, there are millions of penguins living around the world on land associated with our past and present connections with British overseas territories, which has helped raise awareness of them, as well as fondness for them.

They are part of the traditional fabric of British Christmas culture to such an extent that to receive a Christmas card with a penguin on it feels entirely fitting alongside a few of our own British wildlife characters.

It's sometimes hard not to think of them in a humorous context, such as wearing woolly hats, for they appear such jolly characters!

The act of sketching often ignites the imagination further - on this occasion I couldn't help but think of the following as I was sketching the penguins in this watercolour and ink painting - usually such thoughts come instantly; this poem was jotted down quickly and is almost unedited:

Now where is that hat..?

I have a pink woolly hat

From a decade ago

Borrowed from a toddler

When it started to snow -

It has travelled to school

And all round the city

It doesn’t look cool

And is not very pretty.

But it has seen off snow –

Defrosted cold boots –

Dressed jumpers and jeans

And scaled down work suits.

It has done a good job

To keep out in the cold,

But I’ve tossed it aside

When I’ve thought it looked old!

- Yet it is always ready,

Like a trusted old teddy -

To be found in an odd space

(Or lost property place)..

It morphs each year –

So now looks fluffy -

Apart from that - PERFECT! –

Perhaps a bit scruffy.

(Claire Murthy)

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