Detlef Tibax – Elephant Original

Medium: acrylics on linen canvas

Size: 70 x 100cm

He quotes:  This is one of my very first works introducing abstraction and a bold play of colours that has since become a prominent part of my artistic style. It is really a work that I regard as a tipping point in my creative development. It depicts one of the many mother elephants that I spent time with during my travels in Makalali Private Reserve around Hoedspruit, South Africa. Every evening we would wait by a small water hole in the bush with a small group of people, and on multiple occasions were fortunate to witness a large herd of elephants that came to drink from the water.  The giants, curious but wary, would always keep an eye on us and allowed us to share the moment with them as they did their evening ritual.  Observing the playful and intimate interactions between the individuals in the herd mesmerised me as I sketched them. It is truly an outerworldly experience to be around wildlife like this. Various field sketches and experiences ultimately translated themselves into this studio work.  Detlef  is an award winning wildlife conservation artist and the founder of Art 4 Conservation, a Belgian non-profit organisation that is devoted to raising funds for wildlife conservation through art sales, charity events and online campaigns. Having graduated with a degree in Marine and Behavioural Biology, Detlef’s passion for the natural world and love for art have been defining factors throughout his life. The artworks he creates are striving to convey personal experiences with the subject species during his travels around the world. His hopes are to re-establish people’s relationship with nature through creative storytelling and to build partnerships in the conservation art space. Our sincere thanks go to Detlef for donating 50% of the proceeds from this sale will support the charitable work of David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) and our ground-based conservation partners across Africa and Asia.