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Hippopotamus

Hippopotamus line art illustration (click image to enlarge)

Hippopotamus full color illustration (click image to enlarge)

Artist's notes:

This is an older drawing made in 2004. The hippo was a pretty straightforward ink drawing, but when it came to laying on the digital tint I had to get creative - because the animal is a brown-grey with pinkish undertones that become more pronounced near the undersides, mouth and eyes. I created one layer of pink and another of the brown-grey and blended the two together. Looking at hippos now I'd say this is a fairly accurate depiction of their unique skin color.

Information about the Hippopotamus:

The Hippopotamus can be found in Sub-Saharan parts of Africa near or in permanent bodies of water. Hippos are about 5 feet tall weighing up to 3 1/2 tons. In weight, the hippo is the second largest land mammal. The eyes and nostrils protrude, allowing the animal to see and breathe while otherwise submerged in the water. The name hippopotamus is derived from the Greek words meaning “river horse.” Hippos are extremely territorial and will attacks human - even in boats - to defend their turf. Hippos cause more human fatalities per year in African than any other large mammal - including lions.