The Last of the Big Tuskers: Tusker Tim
Earlier in 2020, Africa lost one of its most iconic elephants, "Tusker Tim"
Recognised as one of the continent’s largest tusked elephants. This gentle giant roamed the plains of the Amboselli National Park on the foothills of the world's highest free standing volcano, Mt Kilimanjaro.
Tim belonged to a clade of impressive pachyderms whose genes produced enormous tusks. He sadly passed away from natural causes on 5th February 2020 just aged 50.
Post-mortem results showed that Tim died from a twisted gut and the only marks on his immense body were the imprints left by his companion who tried to gently lift the great “tusker” back on his feet.
This magnificent bull elephant was sketched in the medium of Pastel on Pastel Matt Paper)
This original has been purchased by a private collector.
How I sketched the above image
Having marked up the elephant on the left image, I am starting to work on the background sky with a light blue.
Sketched the blurred bush and tree background and then started work on the ear of this beautiful bull elephant
I've been concentrating on the his head and then worked down his beautifully ragged right ear
I've now worked down his ear, belly and leg before moving onto his magnificent right tusk.
I've now filled in his tusk and gone back to his forehead in order to move across to his left ear.
Having completed his right tusk, I'm moving back to his head and will gradually work down his long trunk.
Gradually working the light down the trunk before I eventually move up to the bulls left tusk
Slowly I've been working down the trunk and leading leg, which has now shown the inside edge of the left tusk
Trunk more or less completed, now to work on the lower part of the leading leg before moving up to the tusk
Adding shadow to the creases in the knee
Just the top of the leading leg to do before I move onto the tusk. I'll then work on the belly and then up to the ear.
Finished working on Tim's left ear, his belly and started adding the background and dust.
