Olifant

Dimensions: 20" x 18"
Materials: #4-cut custom-dyed wool on linen
Adapted from a photograph by the artist's son and hooked by Val Flannigan, Kelowna, British Columbia, 2012.
Featured in: Celebration XXIII
Teacher: Jon Ciemiewicz

"I designed this piece from a photo taken by Colin Flannigan with his permission. We were on a family vacation visiting game parks in South Africa. 'Olifant' is South African for elephant.

I like the cropped effect. This gave the piece a different appeal. I tried to capture the dusty feeling in both the animal and the atmosphere. It was in his body that the wool did most of the work. There was one wool that I was able to use both sides–-one side was a nubbly texture whereas the reverse side was a soft brushed texture.

After I had hooked the eye, I later took it out and then sculpted the lid. I thought that this gave him a droopy-eyed look. I like the way his tusk looks rounded. I now feel that I could have done his wrinkled skin a bit differently.

The background colour was chosen to support that hot and dusty climate."
- Val Flannigan, Celebration Hall of Fame 2018