SOLD
I've always been fascinated by these large creatures... despite their immense size, they have a unique quality that makes them feel very approachable. I started this painting as a monochromatic experiment - using only ONE color, plus white, and seeing how many values can be achieved with just that color. I was so happy with the results that I decided to take the painting further by adding a light blue/teal background.
I only paint from life, or from my own reference photos, but in this case I was inspired by a gorgeous photo taken by the amazing Dianne Blell, which she generously gave me permission to use for my painting.