Slowly the front page of Karen’s book is coming together. It’s been another crazy couple of days and I’m just sitting down for a little sketch time. So far I’ve laid out the salamander body. Why a salamander? I have no idea, but it just seemed like a fun forest critter to add. It did become rather large, but I can’t go backwards now. This is a long toed variety. They have a lovely green pattern that runs from between the eyes to the tip of the tail. The body color is dark, shiny, with flecks of the same spotting on it’s sides. I really love the patterns down their back. It also surprises me at how their body gets creases and folds as they walk. These little guys live underground throughout our valley and into the mountains.
I should make my way through this image today. Tomorrow I’ll finish off the other joint page. The studio is so enviting these days since the temperature is about 15-20 degrees cooler than outside. Yes, the heatwave continues….
graphite, watercolor, colored pencil
Sticks, Stones, and Paper Stew Blog 
Oh, hello Sally Mander! He…she looks perfectly at home on the joint page. Very cool critter, and illustration.
Sorry to hear about the continued heatwave.
With all the grass seed harvesting and heat, it totally feels like mid August! Yesterday reached 100, and the same expected for today. We’re heading to the coast to escape heat and fireworks.
The salamander is the perfect addition to this page, great choice. You really are having a hot summer there, glad the studio is nice and cool. Karen
One of the things that is so interesting about those books is the choices we make of subject matter – the salamander has settled right in, the patterns on his (her?) body becoming part of the concept. Very nice! Its hard to conceive of your heatwave – here is is clear and sunny but very cold (cold for Sydney anyway, 13C in the middle of the day!)
I really like how everything ends up working together. It will be so much fun to see what Cathe adds next!
Stay warm!
Yes! Looks perfect on that page.
yes that is a perfect compliment to the page!! nice!!
most enjoyable, thank you! As a Sally, I’m a fan of the name Sally Mander. Or Sal Amanda.
Oh, I like that rendition- Sal Amander! Sally Mander was something from a child. Maybe a nephew or niece.