About the African Elephant Drawing
As a child, I knew elephants mainly from zoos and circuses, where their surroundings could never convey their true scale, intelligence, or social presence. Seeing African elephants living and interacting freely in Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa transformed my understanding of these remarkable animals and deepened a fascination that has remained with me ever since.
In Long Years, I focused closely on the elephant’s face and broad ears, allowing the animal to fill the entire composition. The unusually wide format emphasizes its imposing presence, while the direct gaze creates a quiet sense of connection between the elephant and the viewer.
I was especially drawn to the deeply wrinkled and cracked skin. Every fold and line seems to record years spent beneath the African sun – years of movement across the landscape, changing seasons, social bonds, and accumulated experience. Through the detailed graphite work, I wanted to portray not only age and endurance, but the dignity of an animal whose long life appears written across its face.