by Mike Marsh
As with most all my tutorials, we start with a ball on the end of a rod.
Using heat control and gravity let the ball elongate into an egg shape, to form his body.
Attach a rod and burn it off leaving enough to let it ball back and become his head.
After I get his head nice and round, I like to let it sag down, becoming the top of his head.
Attach a rod at the point where you think the trunk should start.
And pull it out into an "S" shape forming his trunk.
Now is a good time to put his tusks and eyes on. His tusks are done with the same technique at the trunk.
This photo is a bit hard to see, but I start the ear by attaching a rod to the top of space where the ear goes, pull up then down, wiping molten glass down the side of his heat.
Pull it to a point and burn it off.
Attach a rod and burn it off leaving a blob that can be
pulled into shape. Flatten the end
of his foot on your marver.
I usually attach a punty at this point, but on this one, since the trunk is thin, I have made a hard connection. (let the glass flow between the punty and trunk). Reason being is that a regular punty connection will break off too easy with the trunk being so thin.
Back legs are just a
duplication of the front legs, and the tail is basically a tusk on his
butt.
ps...the bubble in his shoulder is a result of a crack I healed up.
Stopping between each stage to take photos lets him cool too much. I'm sure yours wont do that.
Burn off the trunk and taaaaa daaaaa, an elephant.
With a little modification and thought, you can make him do anything you want. I have made him playing golf, tennis, surfing, skate boarding, dancing,,,etc.
Have
fun.