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Elephant

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Malcolm Davies GRA

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Well here is one that is very different for me. A complete change from my more usual 'mechanical' based subjects. I have been asked by a friend to do a painting based on one of his photographs, of an Elephant, yep that's right an Elephant. Well this could be interesting, on so many levels. Anyhow, here is the initial sketch done. A fairly small scale picture (as requested) around A4. I am going to be working with watercolours, so let's see how this goes.
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, NAPA

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Well, the drawing looks good - an African heffalump, that be....  big ears. Does you good to try something different. 

Sylvia Evans

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Oh Joy.  Elephants are a delight.  I'm sure you have the photo  in front of you , but don't forget African Elephants  ears are LARGE  and shaped like a map of Africa...lovely subject I'm sure you will do it justice .   One of my favourite moments was sitting in my PJs in Zambia  an Ellie about 4 yards away and me drawing him.   Luckily he was busy eating all of the foliage outside of my little hut to take any notice of me.   
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Malcolm Davies GRA

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Thanks both. Yes as you say Robert, good to try something different. Wow Sylvia, what an experience to do it in the 'wild'. Nearest I have ever been was elephants in India, but they weren't in the wild.

Denise Cat

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A really good sketch and it's great trying different things, you will make a super job, look forward to seeing it.
IMG_0700

Gillian Cooke

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That’s a great start Malcom, I love them! However I find them intimidating to put down on paper! As Robert says it’s good to try something different! Look forward to see how it develops.
Moi 17

Linda Wilson

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Love elephants!  I had the terrifying experience of sitting on one’s head in India.  I was horrified by seeing them chained up in an Indonesian Zoo And performing in a Thai circus.  They are lovely just roaming free in Africa though, covering themselves with brown mud or wading in water.  Your drawing is a good start.  I look forward to seeing your progress
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Malcolm Davies GRA

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Update on the Elephant painting. I have taken some inspiration from the late great David Shepherd. He often used to keep the background simple and put the detail into the elephant, so this is what I am aiming to achieve. Time will tell. 
IMG_6882

Paul (Dixie) Dean

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Having sketched and painted several elephant Malcolm I can assure you that it’s is coming along very nicely. Not that I’m  in the same league as Davis Shepard , I would agree that the focus should be on the elephant, people will imagine the background. Often they are found in shade and if moving there is a dust cloud but I’m sure you know all that. 
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Malcolm Davies GRA

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Some more work now gone into the elephant. Great fun trying to get the texture and folds which are in the skin looking something like real.
IMG_0700

Gillian Cooke

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Malcom your elephant is looking great. In fact he is going to be magnificent!
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Malcolm Davies GRA

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Thanks Gillian. Let's hope you are right. No pressure eh!!!!
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