Elephantidae.

'Elephantidae'

I started creating this piece as a way to find out what I wanted to do last semester. Although, once I had completed it, I didn’t know what to do with myself… I got talked into entering for an Open Exhibtion in St. Albans, called ‘Eastern Approaches’ and decided to enter this piece. I also enter a study of a childs skull and video piece I made in my first year at university. This painting didn’t get accepted, but my video did, so that was good at least.

With this piece, I wanted to show what I see to be beautiful in something that has passed away and decayed, in other words, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”. Elephants are magnificent creatures in life and to me, are equally so in death.

I had been fascinated by the different textures of the skulls surface and the deep, dark crevasses discovered with each new glance. As well as how the wearing of the exterior could tell you about its movement and previous being.

From creating initial sketches of the object, I familiarised myself with its form and enabled myself to make this work with some ease. A limited colour palette was used, because I was still learning about the medium and I knew the possible colour range available from the paint I had.

At first, I had intended to leave it up to the viewer to form his or her own personal interpretation and they still can, however, the work was more about me showing the world how I see and feel.

Not having had this piece exhibited before, I’ve decided to put it up in a show I’m doing with some fellow students at Courtyard Art Gallery in Hertford. The show will be up in less than 2 weeks!