Elephant in the Open Grasslands

Inspiration

A friend of mine, Pat, returned from an African safari with magnificent landscape photos and awe-inspiring glimpses of the wildlife she encountered. Seeing her images made me reflect on how these beautiful animals are becoming increasingly rare in our world.

Artistic Process

Capturing the elephant’s skin was the biggest challenge—those countless wrinkles had to feel real. I layered watercolor, then reinforced the texture with a Micron pen. I’m pleased with the result, especially the muted skin tones.

• Brushes & tools: SNAP! 1" stroke, Round 2, Fan 2, cotton swab, Micron 0.5 black pen.
• Paints: Sap Green, Yellow Ochre, Ultramarine Blue, Ivory Black, Joseph Z’s Warm Grey, Titanium White, Sepia, Van Dyke Brown.

Reflections

Despite their massive size and weight, elephants are remarkably graceful—and ingenious. They use their trunks to feed, and to spout water for a quick shower.

Date of Creation

January 03, 2023