Sculpting elephants from life

I'm currently working on a 1:32 scale Indian elephant cow which I started sculpting at the local Safari Park.  I setup a portable workstation at the elephant exhibit and spent the day observing, sculpting and photographing Indian elephants.  

First hand observation is very valuable when making scale models and studying from life is the best source of reference.  Whenever I go to the Zoo I always take hundreds of photos from all angles to use for reference later on.

After blocking in the main forms at the Park I'm refining the model at home now.  I was inspired by the Britains sculptors who would go to London Zoo to sculpt their models from live subjects.

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The model with other 1:32 scale figures.

How amazing! That must be great feeling to sculpt elephant while observing real one

Oh, maybe one day I will try the same with horses. I bet it is difficult During studies we used to sculpt humans and portraits from life. But then the person which we sculpted didn't move. It's of course different with animals

This is AWESOME
I wished I was there to watch you working...weren't there a lot of people who stopped and wanted to talk ?

Ana wrote:

....... we used to sculpt humans and portraits from life. But then the person which we sculpted didn't move. It's of course different with animals

I have sometimes tried to draw horses in the field, - they NEVER stop moving

Even if they were asleep, they wake up and begin moving when they see me

What a thrill that must be! Great the zoo lets you come sculpt there.

Wonderful elephant Andrew!

What's up with your 1:22 3D models?

I find it very interesting and exciting this system work. But also very difficult. I warmly congratulate Andrew !!.

Interessing!  And the elephant looks very nice! 
May I can ask, what do the visitors say to that?

Wonderful:)

Looks wonderful so far! And what a great opportunity!

As always, your elephant is excellent! I would like to sculpt from life, too, but the nearest zoo is a few hours away.

Really lovely, Andrew! Thank you for sharing.

How fantastic to have real reference material. Its a gorgeous little sculpt. I wish I could sculpt my models while watching the real animal. It's so much easier seeing how things work in 3D than working from a flat photograph.

You had a fantastic inspiration Andrews, I would love to look at you working It must be a wonderful experience.
Your new one is already beautiful

Wow, a wonderful model as always. How great it would be if one of the major brands could release such a lifelike model.

Which is the brand of the elephant to the left of your sculpture on the last picture Andrew?
Have you more pics?

Thanks, LeeAnn, Miguel, Andreas, Geospiza fortis, scot(t), Christophe, and donhill.   I'm glad you all found this an interesting topic.

Ana wrote:

How amazing! That must be great feeling to sculpt elephant while observing real one  

Oh, maybe one day I will try the same with horses. I bet it is difficult During studies we used to sculpt humans and portraits from life. But then the person which we sculpted didn't move. It's of course different with animals

Thanks Anna, I encourage you to try it one day with horses.  I make my armature at home so when I go to the Zoo I just bring clay and can start sculpting right away.  It is difficult at first but you get used to the animal moving around and you can focus on different sections as it moves.

SUSANNE wrote:

This is AWESOME  
I wished I was there to watch you working...weren't there a lot of people who stopped and wanted to talk ?

Ana wrote:

....... we used to sculpt humans and portraits from life. But then the person which we sculpted didn't move. It's of course different with animals

I have sometimes tried to draw horses in the field, - they NEVER stop moving

Even if they were asleep, they wake up and begin moving when they see me

arafan wrote:

Interessing! And the elephant looks very nice!
May I can ask, what do the visitors say to that?

Thanks Susanne and Bryan, yes a lot of people stop to watch and ask questions.  Most people find it really interesting and stop to watch the process, some even ask if they can purchase the model on the spot (which I haven't even finished sculpting yet).

Noémi wrote:

Wonderful elephant Andrew!

What's up with your 1:22 3D models?

No new updates for the 1:22 3D models yet, sorry.

HKHollinstone wrote:

How fantastic to have real reference material.  Its a gorgeous little sculpt.  I wish I could sculpt my models while watching the real animal.  It's so much easier seeing how things work in 3D than working from a flat photograph.

Thanks Harriet, the knowledge obtained from even sculpting, drawing or observing common cattle or horses can be applied to wild species such as zebra or eland if you don't have access to a particular species.  At home I usually have video footage playing on loop for reference along with photos as you stated it can be difficult using photos alone.

Florian wrote:

Which is the brand of the elephant to the left of your sculpture on the last picture Andrew?
Have you more pics?

I put some pictures of that model here:https://sts-forum.forumieren.de/t9272-g102-african-elephant-cow

elephas_maximus wrote:

Thanks, LeeAnn, Miguel, Andreas, Geospiza fortis, scot(t), Christophe, and donhill.   I'm glad you all found this an interesting topic.

Ana wrote:

How amazing! That must be great feeling to sculpt elephant while observing real one  

Oh, maybe one day I will try the same with horses. I bet it is difficult During studies we used to sculpt humans and portraits from life. But then the person which we sculpted didn't move. It's of course different with animals

Thanks Anna, I encourage you to try it one day with horses.  I make my armature at home so when I go to the Zoo I just bring clay and can start sculpting right away.  It is difficult at first but you get used to the animal moving around and you can focus on different sections as it moves.

Ha! Now, it seems I have a resolution for this year I will try doing it

Fantastic to see how you work. A great insight.

I am also jealous of your large heard of Jeol waterbuck! :-)