I took a class and our project was an elephant. I came home with 5 pieces attached to the background. My husband said that doesn't look like elephant colors. It wasn't we were doing a abstract type(using red, blue,green, etc). I love it and several people have ask for it when I get tired of it. SOOOO my thoughts are try both and I think any animal is a good place to start. Who's heart doesn't melt when seeing one.