Artwork: Zebra Zensations Technical Pen & Daniel Smith watercolor on Hahnemühle Burgund Postcard. Princeton Neptune Quill Size 4 and Princeton Velvetouch Long Round size 6. Photo reference courtesy of BDougherty on Pixabay.
Today my hubby took a Baby Elephant in his lunch bag.
Did you know a baby elephant weighs around 250 pounds and is about three feet tall? I was present to watch the birth of the elephant Packy, born in 1962 at the Portland, Zoo. Sometimes, my father, who worked at the Zoo would let me feed the elephants. I tried to give baby Packy an apple. At that time, he was too small to hold it in the tip of his trunk so he wrapped his trunk around it — and around my hand! I tried to remove my hand, and he thought I was taking the apple back and wouldn’t let go. We played tug of war for a while before he finally got the apple and I got my hand.
Tools Used and Where to Buy Them
Hahnemuhle Burgund Watercolor Postcard Rough 120lb (review)
Zebra Zensations Technical pens (review)
DANIEL SMITH Blues- Hand Poured Watercolor Half Pan Set of 6
DANIEL SMITH Ultimate Mixing Hand Poured Watercolor Half Pan Set of 15
Life Imitates Doodles 
you have such great memories! you must have had an amazing environment to grow up in .
Thank you, Alice! It was a fantastic childhood. It was amazing being the kid who brought lions and tigers to school for show and tell.
Sandra your elephant is so adorable running through the fall leaves, just like a little child. Enjoy your art an pray each day is more beautiful
Thank you, Joan! Elephant calfs are such characters.
What a wonderful memory! Thank you for sharing. Baby elephant looks so cute.
Thank you, Susan! I fell in love with the reference photo and had to paint it!
Cute! and now I have that song stuck in my head (but of course, it’s the horrible piano rendition of it that I did as a kid!).
Thank you for that compliment, and I apologize for getting the song stuck in your head – I’ve been there myself, lol.
Great story, Sandra! And I love this perhaps more than anything you’ve ever drawn. This baby has such character!
Thank you, Pam! Baby elephants are a hoot, whether for painting or just watching!
How adorable!!! Love him!
Thank you, Priscilla!
How lucky you were, Sandra, to see Packy’s birth and have such a wonderful experience feeding him. I just remember seeing him when we visited Portland Zoo many years later. I do love how you embellished your baby elephant in seasonal splendor! Always so enjoyable to see your art in the morning!
Thank you, Kathy! When I saw this guy in the reference photo he just seemed so joyful, and I just had to paint him.
This is just beautiful. I love how you put your colors together and are so expressive in what you paint. Such a wonderful memory.. I really enjoying your work
What a memorable story, Sandra, to have witnessed the birth of an elephant ad then have it eating out of your hand. Nearly eating your hand as well – made me laugh but I bet you were a bit concerned at the time. The painting is beautiful, such an adorable baby elephant. Your lucky, lucky hubby.
Thank you, Sharon! I was definitely concerned. My father was laughing his head off though, so I knew I wasn’t in any real danger of losing my hand.
Well, how did I miss that your Father worked at the ZOO! Now everything I know about you is making sense! ha!
Love the Packy story!!! And LOVE the painting….especially how you kept the angular, playful lines on the wrinkle elephant calf to the autumn leaves….so effective and animated. You are such a wonderfully fresh and compelling artist!
Lol! Thank you Judy. I have that baffling effect on a lot of people!