Elephant Rear

Went and looked at my Paintings file and this is the 19th elephant that I've done! This one was created for the Daily Paintworks "Elephant" challenge and I decided to have some fun with color and also decided to go for a rear view. The photo for this painting was provided by friends Wade and Sheena Hanson who have given me many great photos from their trip to Africa.

24x24 gallery wrapped canvas 1.5" Profile
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Elephant Reflecting

Every so often I feel the need to paint my spirit animal.

9x12 on 1/8" museum quality panel
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Elephant

I think painting elephants is one thing I will always come back to. Did this one on a smaller panel and kept it really loose.

8x8 on 1/8" museum quality panel
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In the Wild

My very sweet painting friend Sherri had a friend travel to the Serengeti a while back. She generously passed along many photos to me, including some great elephant ones. I much prefer to paint animals in their natural habitat and love elephants, so I was thrilled.

12x12 on 1/8" museum quality panel

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Elephant in Grays

I have been on an elephant and octopus kick, painting larger again too. Just when I think I've found my niche, I'm off in another direction! Just enjoying the ride!

This one was painted on a black gessoed canvas, like most things I've been doing lately. Nice and loose with fun bits of the black peeking through.

20x24 on 7/8" gallery wrapped canvas
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Elephant

I remember the days when all I used to paint were elephants! Beyond thrilled to say that this painting came to me the same way as my previous post--completely organically. It is so loose and I had the best time painting it. It's taken me about two years, but it kind of feels like I've come full circle with this one.

20x24 on 7/8" gallery wrapped canvas

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Orange Elephant

It has been a long time since I've painted an elephant. I wanted to do a bright one, and am always so drawn to this color combination. He was done completely with brush, then I added some palette knife details to make it more juicy and interesting.

10x10 on 3/4" gallery wrapped canvas

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Here are some process photos--the last before I added palette knife:

Elephant with R & F Pigment Sticks

There is nothing looser for me than painting with these oil pigment sticks. I love them for doing more abstract pieces, but love the look here too. This elephant is an adorable accompaniment to a donkey that I did in the same size and bright style. (No politics intended!)

10x10 on 1/8" Museum Quality Panel
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Watercolor Elephant

It's hard to believe that I waited as long as I did to paint an elephant with my watercolors. This one was done in my moleskine journal. I love the soft easiness of it. The chickadee was also done in my journal.

Covered in Blue

It's been a while, both for painting an elephant, and also for painting so loosely. I know it was loose and fun because I was covered in blue paint! Painting elephants just makes me happy, and to do it in blue is just a double-bonus.

12x12 Oil Palette Knife Painting

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Elephant Surfing

I have been busy doing a few commissioned pieces this past month. This piece is the third painting of elephants for this collector. The first two were a front and rear view in bright greens, blues, and yellows. For the last piece he wanted an image showing his son surfing an elephant. You know I am always thrilled to do elephant paintings and really appreciated the cool idea! 

Looking forward to seeing the three pieces together in a custom frame the owner will make himself. 

6x8 Oil on Museum Quality Panel

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Rear View Companion

This is part two in an elephant triptych, done as a commissioned companion piece to a previous painting I had done. The whole process just flowed so easily from the sketch to the color mixing to the loose knife strokes. I strayed from the five colors I have been using for about two months and brought out some of my old favorites to mix with. Happiness all around--do you see it?

Check back soon to see the third piece. All of these paintings will be awaiting a new baby boy.

6x6 Oil on Museum Quality Panel
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This was the original purchased piece.

Light From Darkness

Elephants have always been one of my favorite things to paint. They are such large and peaceful animals that represent strength, good fortune, wisdom, patience, family, and society. I love how in this one, it seems to be light coming out of the darkness.

12x12 Oil on Museum Quality Panel
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A Little of This and A Little of That

I've been kind of all over the place lately. When I can find time to paint, I'm so torn between painting something huge or painting something tiny! For the past few days I have been doing a lot of photo work and also painted another elephant, which was a 6x6 oil on panel. I love the tiny elephant (such an oxymoron!) and especially the bright color combination. Today I finally started the crocus piece and have decided to work with oils on a larger 11x14 panel. Hopefully I can focus in a little, but I'm definitely enjoying painting--whatever the form!

6x6 Oil on Museum Quality Panel
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Turquoise & Coral

I'm thrilled with the outcome of this bright and happy elephant painting. It was so nice to get loose again and paint on the buoyant canvas. I don't know how I would ever only paint with just oils or just acrylics, unless I am able to accomplish all that I love about both on one piece. Only one way to find out, and that is to just do it!

I definitely have to keep moving back and forth for now--quite a contrast between this 30x40 and my last few pieces, which were 5x7. My goal is to get loose with the oils on small panels, and would you believe, I've signed up for a painting class! It is a two-day workshop with one of my favorite artists named Leslie Saeta.

After I accidentally discovered palette knife painting one day and was trying it out for a while, I began looking for answers online. Her work is something that I stumbled across and began following (and also the reason I tried to paint the boat you see on my website). She paints oils on small panels--check out her site www.saetastudio.com

30x40 Acrylic on Box Canvas 
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