elephant o1
60 x 60” . |. C O M M I S S I O N | 2 0 2 1
This abstract art piece was commissioned by Marriot International Hotels Inc. and is composed of custom cast plaster segments created to replicate the tactile patterns of wrinkled, parched, rough elephant skin. This piece is a highly textured, dimensional sculpture set in a 2.25” wooden box frame inlaid with resin.
In order to begin, I first studied the beautiful abstract expressions of other artists. Then I had to determine how to replicate the texture of elephant skin, either stylistically or realistically. I explored several different materials to cast, from tree bark, to tile mosaics, to stone. I settled on just the right textured rock, specifically Dolomite Rock, aka Elephant Skin Stone, which I found at an aquarium supply store. Next I looked at the anatomy and structure of an elephant’s head. I found that examining black and white photos really helped me see the details in the surfaces, contours, lines, and folds more clearly.
Next I worked on the scale, contrast, and warm middle gray color palette for the design. At this point, it was time to begin casting the plaster components that will make up the design. I started by mixing and pouring liquid silicone rubber compound into trays, coating the Elephant Skin Stones in petroleum jelly, then submerging them into the mixture, and waiting for them to harden and set. Once cured, I released the stones from the silicone molds, leaving silicone mold negatives. Then I mixed and poured plaster into the mold negatives and waited until they hardened and could be released, resulting in various versions of textured white chalky replicas of the Elephant Skin Stones to use to create the design.
Next I masked off two tusk templates with electrician’s tape and poured in plaster to set and remove later. I mixed and poured gray resin into the wooden box frame, blew out the bubbles with a hot air gun, waited for the surface to set and finally painted, arranged, and glued the plaster “skin” into the elephant head design. A custom crate was built and the piece shipped off to it’s new home… a hotel in Tusk-aloosa, Alabama : )
— elephant o1 video —
inspiration + process + materials
• • • the beautiful abstract expressions of other artists that I used as inspiration • • •
what material to use to replicate elephant skin…. tree bark?
a tile mosaic?
rocks?
Found it! Dolomite Rock… aka Elephant Skin Stone. Found a wide assortment at Pet Zone Tropical Fish store.
Time to study the anatomy and structure of an elephant’s head. I found that examining black and white photos really helped me see the details in the surfaces, contours, lines, and folds more clearly.
Next I worked on the scale, contrast, and warm gray color palette for the design.
Next I determined the warm middle gray color palette.
Now the plaster components making up the design need to be cast.
I started by mixing and pouring liquid silicone rubber compound into trays.
I coated the Elephant Skin Stones in petroleum jelly, then submerging them into the mixture to harden and set.
Once cured, I released the stones from the silicone molds, leaving silicone mold negatives.
Then I mixed and poured plaster into the mold negatives and waited until they hardened and could be released.
This resulted in various versions of textured chalky replicas of Elephant Skin Stones to use to create the design.
Next I masked off two tusk templates with electrician’s tape and poured in plaster to set and remove later.
I mixed and poured gray resin into the wooden box frame.
Then finally, I painted, arranged, and glued the plaster “skin” into the elephant head design.
The piece was picked up from my studio, a custom crate was built, and the piece shipped off to it’s new hotel home.