Steampunk Elephant with Cat, Copics

Steampunk Elephant with Cat, 8.5″ x 11″ Copics with digital background

The topic is “Carry” at Illustration Friday. Another blue cat, this time a lovely creature called Delilah. As the eldest daughter, she will be inheriting the ancient elephant vehicle and the title Elephant Princess when her mother retires. She is both excited by, and dreading, the entire affair. Excited by the thought of riding the elephant in the parades, but dreading the procession of merchant cats and their tedious complaints about one another.

So glad I stopped before filling in the cat, because I think she makes a nice contrast with the very busy elephant. A bit too heavy on the outlines, but overall I think the steampunk elephant makes a worthy companion to the Cat Ship and Llama Genie Airship.

And one more thing. I’ve been listening to a great podcast while doing art over the last few weeks. It’s called The Dork Forest and is the podcast of comedian Jackie Kashian. She  talks to other comics and comic book people and movie people and loads of others about whatever it is they are really enthusiastic about. Very entertaining.  If you need a new thing, go see! Thanks for visiting!

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Elephant photo reference;  Siamese Cat Hybrid photo reference

48 thoughts on “Steampunk Elephant with Cat, Copics”

  11. Leslie White

    I like all the different patterns used to create this. It is a feast for the eyes. I also like the idea of the huge elephant paired with the small and fearless cat. Excellent!

    1. The Beast Tender Post author

      Excellent question! This cat, a member of the ruling race of cats, is quite large.

  16. Ces Adorio

    Duh! never mind. I got so excited I did not read the dimensions. Oh Cindy, I have been enjoying your illustrations so much! Thank you.

    1. The Beast Tender Post author

      Thanks, Ces! I thought about making a tiny size of it! But more likely, something similar with less detail because my smallest pen is a 0.03 :)

  17. Koosje

    Oh my gosh, that elephant is great!! Those patterns are perfect, and the contrast with the cat works very well. Ah and thanks for the tip about that podcast!

  19. Leigh

    Hey there! Totally, totally AMAZING piece – I so love the way you show the development frame by frame! Thanks so much for visiting my blog – I very well may be coming to you for advice when I open the Etsy shop :) I´m actually just waiting for some postcards of the swirly piece and then I’m opening the doors! :) Leigh

  22. Sujata Khanna

    Wow ! This is gorgeous! Decorative and colorful I love all the patterns interweaving and creating a story!

  23. Alan Scott

    Great illustration. I love cats. Yet again I love seeing the progression of your illustration to completion. I like that idea so much I sometimes now will do the same but I’ll be posting them to dribbble.com.

    1. The Beast Tender Post author

      Thank you so much, Nora! But I have to say I hate the whole Zentangles thing. Arrgh! In my opinion, the people who “created” the Zentangles thing, while they may very well be helping a lot of people find their inner Zen doodler, did not invent or otherwise add much of anything to designs artists and doodlers have been doing for ages. I certainly never read a Zentangles book, and it burns me just a bit that people might think I’m using Zentangles-learned design.

      Oh geez, please don’t take that the wrong way! I know some people are less familiar with these kinds of pattern styles and so “Zentangles” might be their first introduction. Which is totally fine! But I feel like those folks co-opted something that was not theirs to co-opt, if that makes sense. And clearly I’ll need to mention this in my next blog post because I have strong feelings about the subject. ;D

  29. Ana

    Yes, the contrast between the two animals works perfect in this illustration.
    I love the story. I’m the eldest daughter in my family, wish I could inherit an elephant :)
    Have a nice week!!

  30. Minnemie Murphy

    I just love the creases and wrinkles and textures on the elephant that you expressed so very well! Elephants are my absolute favorite creatures, and you get an A++ on this one:-)

  31. Richard Ewing

    I agree about the cat. She’s a needed area of visual rest from the excitement of the elephant. (who’s complex textures are really quite intriguing!)
    .

  32. Amalou

    Wow! I’ve missed out on a few of your posts, I love where your artwork is going and this is my favourite yet. Love love love the elephant and the cat, and the enchanting story.

  34. michele

    WOW! Cindy, you continue to take your amazing texture and pattern to higher heights! this gives the elephant an incredible musculature even. your contrasting cat is superb. I just love it!

  36. Creations By Mit

    Really cool concept! She looks quite comfortable! I have to say, what I find most interesting this week is that you drew the elephant’s body first. I *always* start all of my creatures with the head! Always fun to see how different artists work!

  39. The Beast Tender Post author

    Thank you so much! Several folks did not leave an address for me to visit back, so please accept my hearty thank you here. :)

  41. Curious Art

    Oh yes, those lavish & exotic patterns carry the day! What a very lucky cat that is to command such a vehicle.

    p.s. I’m a Dork Forest fan too. :-)

  44. pam

    your work is so very lovely…just dig all your colors! i think you may have invented a few colors of your own because i swear i never saw em on the color wheel! haha!

  45. nik

    oh this is surely the most spectacularly patterned pachyderm on the planet! does it have a name? I’m so very in love with it!

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