Zoological illustrations created in a range of mediums including graphite, watercolor, colored pencil, and scratchboard.


Squirrel Stack

A whimsical stack of American red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) all balanced on a ponderosa pinecone (Pinus ponderosa). American red squirrels are commonly found through much of North America south into the northern U.S., the Northeast, and continuing down in the Rocky and Appalachian Mountains. They mainly feed on seeds and cones of evergreen trees.

Graphite

12” x 16”

American Robin Nest & Egg

The American robin (Turdus migratorius) builds its nest with first an outer cup of dead grasses, fine twigs, weeds, rootlets, moss, and mud, and then applies another inner layer of mud. The final lining of fine plant stems and grasses can easily be removed to see the hardened mud bowl underneath. Robin nests are among the longest lasting songbird nests in North America.

Watercolor, colored pencil & graphite

14” x 18”

Hera Buckmoth & Great Basin Sagebrush

The Hera buckmoth (Hemileuca hera) perched on its primary host plant, the Great Basin sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata). The Hera buckmoth does not feed once it hatches as its moth form. The female moth lays her eggs on the host plant, and once the eggs hatch, the larvae feed on the host plant.

The Hera buckmoth is found throughout most of the western states of the US. It is part of the moth family Saturniidae, and in the subfamily Hemileucinae.

Colored pencil & graphite on duralene

11” x 14”

Io Moth & Common Hackberry

The Io moth (Automeris io) perched on one of its preferred host plants, the common hackberry (Celtis occidentalis). The Io moth does not feed once it hatches as its moth form. The female moth has less than two weeks to lay eggs on a host plant before she dies. The male moths live even shorter lives. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae feed on the host plant.

The Io moth is found throughout the eastern and mid states of the US. It is part of the moth family Saturniidae, and in the subfamily Hemileucinae.

Colored pencil & graphite on duralene

11” x 14”

Harvest Mice on Blue Grama Grass

An illustration of the three species of harvest mice that are found in New Mexico; (from left to right/ top to bottom) plains harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys montanus), western harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys megalotis), and fulvous harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys fulvescens), on the state grass of New Mexico - blue grama grass (Bouteloua gracilis).

Graphite

13.75” x 17”

Perched

Abert’s squirrel & pine white butterflies on ponderosa pine.

The Abert’s squirrel (Sciurus aberti) relies on ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) for shelter and food, building its nest within the tree, and eating almost every part the tree has to offer, including seeds from the pine cones, inner bark, buds, and pollen cones.

Pine white butterflies (Neophasia menapia) use ponderosa pine as their preferred host plant, meaning the butterflies lay their eggs on the pine needles, and once hatched, the larvae eat the needles.

Graphite

17.5” x 22.5”

Horny Toad Hill

A pile of 6 greater short-horned lizards (Phrynosoma hernandesi).This species of horny toad is found throughout western North America.

Graphite

17” x 13”

Spanish Moon Moth

The Spanish moon moth (Graellsia isabellae) is native to the mountains of northern Spain. The moth’s host plant is the pine tree. The females will lay their eggs on pine trees, and the larvae will eat the pine needles once hatched.

Colored pencil & graphite on duralene

11” x 14”

Comet Moth

A male comet moth  (Argema mittrei) illustrated immediately after it has hatched from its cocoon. Comet moths only live up to 7 days after they have hatched. During this time, they do not eat and their sole purpose is to mate. Often the female comet moths will spend the entirety of their short lives perched on their cocoon while they wait for a male to find them.

Colored pencil & graphite on duralene

11” x 14”

Common Loon (Gavia immer)

Scratchboard

Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)

Graphite

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Botanical Illustrations