by Graeme Compton



Artwork Description

Elephandt Selfie


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An idea for a children's frieze involving an adventurous young elephant had been on my digital drawing board for some time. Whilst creating one of the images, involving a haunted mansion, I thought it would be amusing to hang classic portraits on the walls with one huge difference: each portrait would be repainted as an elephant. I chose Rembrandt as my victim. Once the digital roughs were done, I became attracted to the little images and decided to actually paint them, on canvas. Some deliberate study of Rembrandt's original's thus ensued and the finished paintings produced. I am now working on an exhibition with this theme. The inspiration for this painting springs from Rembrandt's self portrait at age 34, completed in 1640. Rembrandt depicts himself as a confident, well-to-do young man at the height of health. My elephantised version of this composition retains the sartorial splendour, including the furry beret, and the cockiness of the sitter, but includes a slight inflection of surprise.



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