INKtober 2026 - Whose Life (Tusk) is Worth More?
In Dutch, we call a tusk: ‘slagtand’.
Animals with tusks are prime targets for poachers. They hunt them because ivory is valuable and, moreover, is being banned in more and more countries. As well as elephants, other animals are killed for their tusks or … teeth.
Waiting for them to die of natural causes apparently takes too long, although I can imagine that this actually makes the ivory even more valuable.
As I’m already a day behind schedule, I’ve decided to sketch and draw this at the end of the working day.
I plan to add some watercolour at home (it’s 7.38 pm, pitch black, and I’m waiting for the train). Well, by now I did.
Big Ears is an African elephant; he also has more wrinkles. It turns out that these protect them from dehydration.
I have decided to draw an illustration showing all the known animals, all mammals, that have been killed for their ivory.
The Process
I started with the sketch and next I used the Black fineliner (BIC). This time It had no issues.
Issues
- I think the fineliner smudges when it gets wet.
Smudges or not, I am happy with the end result.
Materials:
- sketchbook - bamboo paper
- pencil HB
- Fineliner - 4 mm - black - BIC
- watercolour paint + waterbrush (Action)
29.10.26
INKtober prompt: tusk
#artonsteemit #inktober #drawing #freewrite #inktober26 #creative #steemexclusive
If I come across anyone looking for original illustrations for a biology or veterinary textbook, I will certainly share a link to your work; these superbly executed drawings of tusked animals are sure to impress any publisher! :)
That is very kind of you, it does sound like a lot of work though.
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I must apologize to a wonderful artist—from Venezuela, if I’m not mistaken—for forgetting his username. He hasn’t posted in the WORLD OF XPILAR community for a long time (at least, I haven’t seen any; perhaps he changed his avatar or started posting about different topics—it’s hard to say, and my computer keeps lagging, making it difficult to search for very old posts on the blockchain). He used to share magnificent watercolor pieces that looked like illustrations for a botanical reference book—the plants were instantly recognizable, and his watercolor technique was simply stunning. My point is this: I don’t think he was in any great rush, and you shouldn’t be either. The main thing is to just start working in your chosen direction; the rest will unfold as you go along! :)
Perhaps you happen to know this artist? He also shared works in the style of Dalí, as well as AI-generated images with a steampunk aesthetic.
Your drawing and painting is really nice and so near realism. It is sad that they are hunted for their tusks and left to die. But I only heard of elephant tusks being hunted, are walrus and warthog's hunted as well? Narwhal's too?
Yes, they all are, just the elephant came into the news. It is not said it is the only animal protected since ivory is forbidden with us (also strange since what if the elephant or other animal dies (in the zoo) why not use what can be used?
I de used to continue drawing with the prompts of 2025...I go use them for Steemit NaNoWriMo too.
It's such a horrible thing human does to the animals. I remember my younger sister had one bangle she wore as a toddler. Elephant tusk they said.
Your sister can't help. It can be from a dead animal taken from the elephants' graves.
The only tooth I might have is from a holy crocodile. 😁 It wasn't pulled out though.