A Journey of Art and Soul for the Earth

by Rama the Elephant and Calley O'Neill

RAMA: AMBASSADOR FOR THE ENDANGERED ONES

Speaking Passionately on Behalf of Those who Cannot Speak

The Solo Gallery

The Grotto of Hope

Valley of The Endangered Ones

Back to Exhibition

THE PAINTING PROCESS

A true collaboration...

The Rama paintings are an intricate three-way collaboration between Calley O’Neill, Rama the elephant and Jeb Barsh, one of Rama’s keepers. 

First, Calley staples and primes raw canvas on marine plywood sturdy enough so that Rama can impact the canvas on the floor.  

Calley mixes non-toxic tempera paint, and puts it in plastic syringes.  Rama then enthusiastically sprays layers of paint onto the canvas, often brushing on top with acrylics. 

Calley draws the animal freehand and traces it onto Rama’s work and then paints the species with hundreds of translucent Politec glazes.  As Rama paints the wild backgrounds and Calley adds the grace of the animals – chaos, power, and love speak in equal measure.

RAMA may well be the world’s best abstract painter.

Rama began painting as a form of enrichment, emotional and mental stimulation, leading to his career as Oregon’s biggest artist.  Highly intelligent, Rama soon mastered spray and brush painting with his trunk.  The idea was born from a routine health test for TB done with a saline solution in his trunk.  Rama takes a breath and blasts the paint onto the canvas.  The results are truly remarkable.

Rama’s Techniques Continue to Evolve

Rama freely chooses to participate, and works with enthusiasm, energy and focus.   He can walk away at any time and choose not to paint, but he never does.  Rama reaches out with his trunk as Jeb loads a brush with paint.  When Jeb signals Rama to impact the canvas, “Shake it up, Rama!” and Rama brushes, his ears come out and he shakes his head.  The keepers believe he is showing excitement.  When finished, he hands the brush back to Jeb, and rinses his own trunk.