Tembo

My aim with this piece was to convey the drama and emotion of a close encounter with one of these fascinating and captivating creatures. Capable of immense power, but also gentleness and intelligence, an encounter like this provides an unforgettable moment of connection in which they seem as curious about us as we are about them. This portrait saw more than 100 hours of layering pastel to create the depth of texture and colour, with the challenge of capturing every detail of the roughness and wrinkles feeling a little different to the soft fur that makes up the majority of my work. He is named Tembo, which simply means Elephant in Swahili – the language of the Massai.

Subject: African Elephant (Loxodonta Africana)
Original Medium: Stabilo CarbOthello, Faber-Castell Pitt Pastel, and Caran D’Ache pastel pencils and Pan Pastels on white PastelMat
Original Size: 65x40cm
Original Artwork: SOLD – Prints available
Coloured pencil African Elephant portrait by wildlife artist Angie