Matamua Arts Photo Blog

Elephants on the Edge II is the second installment in a planned series showing Elephants gathering at the edge of a cliff. (Yes, I’m aware that I am perhaps not the most creative artist when it comes to naming my own artwork). I know its hard to see in this small picture, but there are three elephants here. One at the vary edge of the cliff, one coming up from behind, and another way in the back coming around the bend.

In the first installment (you can see it here), the emphasis settled on showing that the elephants were being driven from their natural habitat (by man). However, the real underlying point for me with this series has become that the elephants are choosing to commit suicide. With this second installment, I wanted to make that more clear.

As for the design of the picture, I knew I wanted the frame to be dominated by a shear rock face, with just a touch of color and activity near the top. I decided to go with palm trees to lend a sort of tropical paradise feel, and to better suggest that the elephants were being kicked out of paradise.

I decided that nowhere in these pictures will you actually see an elephant leaping to its death. I feel its important that this series function first and foremost as a collection of ‘interesting and pretty elephant pictures’, and not depress people outright.

…but between you, me and the light post over there, that’s what’s happening.

You can purchase a print here.

See all my artwork here.