Oaxacan Dotted Elephant

Dots, Dots, Dots!

Posted by Carla Sonheim

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This elephant is inspired by beautiful Oaxacan wood animal carvings. Here’s how to do it:

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You Will Need (5 things)

  • Watercolor Paper
  • Black Permanent Marker
  • watercolors
  • Watercolor brush
  • White Paint Pen

Steps (6 steps, 60 minutes)

  1. 1

    Doodle some scribbly elephants in your sketchbook. Pick the one you like best, and scan into the computer. Enlarge to fit nicely on an 8″x10″ paper; print (I printed on 140# Fabriano hot press watrcolor paper, but any paper will work).

  2. 2

    With a black permanent marker, draw in curvy lines around the existing lines. Think "thick & thin." Fill in the thicker areas.

  3. 3

    Paint a light layer of watercolor, using several colors.

  4. 4

    Using markers and colored pencils, color in your elephant with lines, dots and patterns until you are pleased.

  5. 5

    Here is a detail.

  6. 6

    Finish with a white paint pen. Add dots along the black lines, and any other place you feel needs a little white. (Note: This project first appeared in my book "Drawing & Painting Imaginary Animals."