As a child I loved elephants above all creatures in earths menagerie. They were thrilling to observe and be close to. Their massive, lumbering grace. Their unquestionable dignity. But it made me sad to see them in the circus or in zoos. Performing tricks under a tent or standing listlessly behind bars felt like a cruel indignity. A betrayal. Elephants reminded me of my grandfather and certain actors from the films of my childhood. Frank Morgan who played the Wizard (and various incarnations)in The Wizard of Oz. And Maurice Chevalier who made moving slowly and elegantly an art form. Never was there a song and dance man with such a economy of moves and movement. He strolled through musical numbers with an lightly elephantine lack of athleticism that was somehow very winning. He hardly picked up his feet and did little more than sway to the rhythm of whatever song he was barely singing. He seemed to be saying “Yes yes yes I could tap or leap or twirl but why be a show off? Besides I might scuff my shoe.” Chevalier was completely at ease in his skin and so we enjoyed watching him simply being his elegant unhurried self. I often imagined how it would be if elephants lived different lives among us. If they could stroll through parks wearing dapper clothes and stopping at a sidewalk cafe for an aperitif or a dry martini. And I wonder what book would an elephant read on his day off in the park. . . . . #sketchoftheday #sketchoftheday #inkdrawing #ink #elephantsketch #elephants #elephantsofinstagram #elephantdrawing #illustration #illustration_art #martini #mauricechevalier #turnerclassicmovies #republicans #republicansneedtochill https://www.instagram.com/p/BxhpYZSFcUx/?igshid=1ijo66r260df6
