Drawing animals from life is a challenge for me. If you've ever tried to draw your pet, you'll know that even a sleeping animal will move. Then move again, and again....and.... again.  Field sketching's like that, but even more frustrating, especially when you're trying to look through binoculars at the same time and trying desperately not to fall over! 

Visiting a zoo, wildife park or city farm is a great way to get close to animals without falling down. They still move of course, but you do have a  better chance to observe them at close quarters; hopefully without ending up sitting on your bottom!

Now, in my perfect world, we'd have no zoos.