Baby elephant scuplture watercolor

Hi!

30 minutes sketch

1 brush (kuretake water brush)

moleskine sketchbook

Atlanta zoo

live sketches from Namibia-Concetta Flore

Hello! A week ago I flew back from a trip to Namibia, my first experience of Africa and the desert. A heavy schedule, dry winter season, early sundown, pitch dark cold nights with beautiful, different stars...The long hours spent sitting in the car speeding across dry savannah and deserts have left me with the longing for more time to stop, absorb, learn more. But anyway, when I could, I did sketch. Here are a few samples: the dunes of the Namib desert, beautiful shades of rusty red and dark, blue-gray shadows; the seals in Cape Cross; elephants and rhinos at the Etosha lodge waterholes (more like sitting at theatre than being out there...)...You'll find more details on my blog,check it now and in the next days if you like.

Africa's Wonder - Maree

"Let a Person Walk Alone With Few Wishes, Committing No Wrong, Like an Elephant in the Forest."



Africa's wild animals are a constant source of inspiration for my sketching and for me, elephants symbolise Strength, Solitude, sense of loyalty to the family and Intelligence. Looking into the eye of an elephant, one sees Wisdom beyond our understanding.

I sketched this young elephant on a visit to the Elephant Sanctuary at Hartebeespoort Dam where they provide a “halfway house” for young African elephants in need of a temporary home. Although this sanctuary does excellent work, my visits are always full of heart-break for me, knowing that man can even THINK of harming any creatures, never mind these kind and loving animals. Their family structure is akin to our own, with tight family bonds of honour and caring and it is very difficult to provide the family bonds elephants need in order to survive and maintain a healthy mental attitude.

African elephants are bigger than Asian Elephants. Males stand 3.6 m (12 ft) tall at the shoulder and weigh 5,400 kg (12,000 lb), while females stand 3 m (9.8 ft) and weigh between 3,600 and 4,600 kg (7,900 and 10,000 lb). However, males can get as big as 6,800 kg (15,000 lb!).

Some interesting info :
Elephants have four molars; each weighs about 5 kg (11 lb) and measures about 30 cm (12 in) long. As the front pair wears down and drops out in pieces, the back pair shifts forward and two new molars emerge in the back of the mouth. Elephants replace their teeth six times. At about 40 to 60 years of age the elephant no longer has teeth and will likely die of starvation, a common cause of death.

African Elephant

The African Elephant has always fascinated me. Drawing them is a challenge. Each time the animal moves you have another perspective challenge. Some times the image doesn't even resemble an elephant. It just doesn't look right, but it is. I had to get past that.

I have the opportunity to draw the African Elephant when I visit The Virginia Zoo in Norfolk. The Zoo ha three elephants, all of which are female. At present the matriarch is Lisa. She pushed Monica from the position after Cita arrived. Lisa does not know how to handle the job and is a bit rough. The keepers separate either Lisa or Monica when the three are outside. It will take some time before they put all three out in the big yard together. Cita just gets along and knows her place. She is also the oldest.

Monica was born with one tusk. Lisa has both. Cita has both, except that the right tusk faces down instead of forward. She also tucks hay under her tusks to keep it away from the other two.

It is very pleasurable to just stand and watch their behavior. I also spend quite a bit of time cataloging their bodies in my mind. I've done some research and have found the best book for me is "How To Draw Animals" by Jack Hamm. The text is invaluable. The drawings are instructional in nature and show how animals walk, the differences between species, and a lot of other valuable info. Not much on drawing technique, but extensive information on construction. It is rather inexpensive (mine was $9.99).

Just remember that all things are made of simple shapes and we can the add the detail to flesh things out. Enjoy yourself.


Fred R. Crowley

Billy the bull Asian elephant at the LA Zoo is probably the most controversial elephant of recent history. Many notable animal rights activists backed by celebrities including Bob Barker, Halle Barry and Cher called for an end to Billy’s captivity in the LA Zoo and sought to have him transferred to an elephant sanctuary. The issue was pushed by city council member Tony Cardenas. The big problem for the zoo wasn’t permission from the city, it was money. The zoo needed 42 million to finish the pachyderm forest enclosure that is already years behind schedule. Fortunately for the zoo the drama surrounding Billy was finally put to rest when the city council approved the completion of the pachyderm forest at the LA Zoo. The fervor on both sides of the issue made Billy the elephant a daily feature on the news.

Elephants in captivity are a touchy issue. I can definitely empathize with both sides of the issue. I can’t imagine my childhood without them. But seeing an elephant is not a right, it is a privilege. Elephants are very intelligent social creatures that depend on relationships with other elephants. Unfortunately because of their size and strength their social needs are too often neglected in zoos. I have visited many elephants in zoos who in cramped enclosures sway from side to side and neurotically bob their heads up and down. I hope that the new pachyderm forest in the LA Zoo is able to provide a mentally and physically stimulating home for Billy and other elephants.