The Last of the Big Tuskers: Satao

This magnificent bull elephant which was sadly poached back in May 2014 has been sketched in the medium of Pastel on Pastel Matt Paper.

I have used a reference photograph courtesy of Mark Muller

The original has been sold to a private collector.

How I sketched the above image...

I've marked the image in fine chalk and started to add the clear blue sky before moving onto the bushes and trees

I've created a suggestion of the bush and trees as the background and have now moved onto the top of the left ear

Working at my smaller easle and adding highlights and shadows to the lower ear

Started to fill in the left ear and slowly working my way down the side of the elephant.

I'm now working on Satao's right tusk and then I'll move down the leading leg and up the trunk to the forehead.

I'm chalking in where there should be highlights to the leading leg

I've gradually worked on the leading foot, then across and up the trunk adding some dust across the back leg.

I've completed his supporting leg and his right tusk and now I'm continuing up his trunk to the forehead and ears.

I work left to right to avoid smudging the pastel. I often use a wooden poll across the image to rest my wrist on.

I've worked on the forehead then across to his left ear. I'll now focus on the foreground and also soften the image.