The daffodils opened in a yellow rush as if they couldn't bear to keep furled a moment longer, and the birds trilled in triumph.  The chilly fingers of cold receded and the green lung of the forest exhaled with relief.  At last the season of fresh green and optimism is with us and thoughts turn to planting, sowing seeds and to hatching plans and projects.

It is a time for new beginnings in the studio.  I tidy my bookshelves, throw out clogged and stiffened brushes, sort my sketches and plan ahead.  I am looking forward to not only beginning creative projects, but to summery days out too, when I can be inspired and refreshed with new sights and experiences.  Days away from the easel are never wasted.  One such plan is a picnic in Hyde Park, London, to join together with friends and family around something very special.

That very special thing is an elephant.  He is made of fibreglass around a strong frame of stainless steel, and he is the size of a real life adolescent Asian elephant.

For a while he lived with us in our home, sharing our work and living space.  His name is EKO and I would like to tell you a little bit about him if I may...

Last November I was honoured and delighted to be asked by The Orangutan Foundation to paint their sponsored elephant, 'EKO', for The 2010 London Elephant Parade.  I was thrilled to have the opportunity to be involved in such a dynamic and worthwhile project, which aims to bring a smile to the faces of Londoners whilst highlighting the extreme plight of the critically endangered Asian Elephant, which faces extinction and urgently needs its natural habitat secured for it to survive. Over 200 elephants will be located across London, with all those painted in support of conservation charities being positioned as a colourful herd in Hyde Park.

It was a somewhat surreal experience to take delivery of a life sized elephant, and the children's' faces when they came home from school was a picture of delight and amazement.

My first task was to come up with an effective visual concept that reflected both The Orangutan Foundation and the organizing charity, The Elephant Family, which works to protect the endangered Asian elephant.

My design is chiefly influenced by Indian patterns; I painted a vine, which grows from the bottom of his trunk up and over his back in a living canopy like an exotic blanket.  Swinging amid the branches are the orangutans.

The canopy was painted in metallic gold and the Orangutans in metallic copper against a background of serene 'Pitch Blue' courtesy of Farrow and Ball.  The Orangutans are an integral part of the pattern rather than focal points because I wanted to depict them as a harmonious component of the living jungle which you might not spot immediately; and part of the fun of the piece might be that sense of discovery of spotting one hiding amongst the foliage.

I also hid a fanciful winged snail among the tendrils, and a Vanessa Atalanta butterfly for my wife, Vanessa, who helped me with the painting of the many coats of gold acrylic needed to achieve the effect I was after.

Eko's friendly presence was a fixture in our home for more than a month, during which he became very much part of the family, culminating in him presiding over a merry Christmas tea party.  It was a very cold and hazardously icy morning when the van came to collect him, and he was carried down the slippery drive. 

The room then seemed very empty and we all missed his happy shape.

It will be wonderful to see him next summer in Hyde Park and we hope his peaceful blue background and golden swirls will help to bring about moments of thoughtfulness in those who visit him; to reflect upon the fragile environment these precious and treasured creatures live in, the joy they can bring to mankind and the dire need for us all to do our part in ensuring they all have a safe and peaceful future.

For more details about the Elephant Parade please visit: elephantparadelondon.org

Editor's note: Since writing this, Vanessa has kindly sent me some more details, "Eko is now sited in Green Park, London, as part of the Happy Herd sponsored by conservation charities. He will be on show there until May 22nd, when all the elephants will be moved to the Chelsea Royal Hospital until the 2nd of July when they will be auctioned. We are also delighted to say that our Eko has been selected to be made into a ceramic miniature which will be on sale in Selfridges, Regent Street, Carnaby Street, Greenwich Market and the online shop - all the proceeds will go to the Elephant Family charity - more info on the website above".

By Paul Kidby

Ragged Elf

"I have been in the business of 'creating' for almost all my life.  It all started with plasticine, paper and glue during my early school days, progressed to a brief period of creating havoc during my teenage years before moving onto the creating of false teeth as a school leaver; this was followed by creating hand-painted roller blinds in a factory and then greetings cards.  By my early twenties I had left London and moved to the Somerset countryside where as a young father I spent my days creating magazine covers in our living room surrounded by toddlers and squeaky toys.

It had been a full 29 years before I was able to combine my implicit desire to be a creator with full job satisfaction; and that was when I began a career as an artist for the fantasy series of 'Discworld' books by Terry Pratchett.  I was given a free and generous rein by the author to wander his universe with my sketchbook to hand, which resulted in the publication of a variety of illustrated books and products.

These days I still dip into the ingenious world of Sir Pratchett to illustrate book jackets and various commissions, but most of my time nowadays is spent working in the realms of my own imagination. 

Moving to the New Forest and marrying my wife Vanessa helped to open the doors into a new world of deep inspiration.  Fuelled by folklore and a taste for the peculiar, inspired by nature and coupled with the oblique squint of my own perspective, (rather like those joke spectacles that give you the vision of a fly, or a fairground mirror) I have recently been painting and sculpting the mythology of faerie, enchantment and magic and it feels like I have at last found my way home to being a creator in my own right.

My recipe for a happy and creatively busy artist (but yours might be different)...

Jokes and ridiculous conversations - sometimes they spin into the absurd and trigger an idea.  Can be very useful and the laughter is invaluable, even if it doesn't lead to any eureka moments.

Cake - but it has to be home-made, just don't eat too much.

Going for a walk, we have a dog so there is no excuse not to get out there whatever the weather and we are always thankful to have done it.

Exhibitions, invaluable, whatever the subject matter... it's always great to see the creative processes other folks gets up to, whatever their style.

Movies, for the same reason.

Music, the right music playing in the studio helps me capture the right feel in my artwork.  It might be anything from my large and eclectic collection, but just lately I have been listening to The Fleet Foxes, The Mummers, Goldfrappe and REM.

A veg patch, it's very grounding to get your hands dirty and work in the soil when you do a sedentary job like mine.  Growing stuff is one of the best feelings.

Sleep and enough of it, if I don't have it my eyes go pink and itchy.

Family, mine's a large and jumbly one but they are all inspiring in their own unique (and sometimes infuriating) lovable ways.  They always bring a fresh perspective too.

Going away on holiday.  It's fascinating to go to new places, eat new food, see new art and architecture hear new languages and smell new smells; and it's always wonderful to come home."

 

Paul has been a member of Enchanted Folk since February 2009

members.enchantedfolk.com/paulkidby

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