In Thailand, elephants are considered important animals, very powerful with great patience, intelligence and memory. They also represent fertility.
In Buddhism, elephants are regarded as a symbol of greatness, power, and intelligence. It is also said that the creature represents security and elegance. Therefore, ancient works of art depicting them mean that this animal helps to sustain Buddhism's prosperity. Ancient belief is that Buddha was once an elephant.
For me, elephants are good friends for people. They are cute and intelligent, with emotions and thoughts which they can communicate and express through their eyes, gestures and body language.
My favorite elephant portrait is named ‘Be Glad I.’ In it, I used many techniques. First, I carved an elephant on a block of wood, then printed the image on paper as a woodcut print. I then painted it in oils to add light, weight, and shadow. Finally, I applied gold foil to complete the work. It required more concentration than other paintings. |
