Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Graduate Student

Leather Boot - Pencil

This is a black and white pencil illustration of a leather boot made by White’s Boot Company. I wore this handcrafted boot daily for several years between college and graduate school while I worked as a telephone installer and repairman. I selected this for the subject of my first project for the class because of its well-worn character and personal meaning. Pencil provided a flexible medium for this illustration since I could blend different weights of lead to achieve realistic gradation in shading. I believe the illustration accurately depicts the shape of the boot, including the folds in the leather created from years of wear. The illustration also effectively captures the various textures of leather from the rough, abraded areas to the smooth, shiny areas protected from wear under the pant leg.

Adult Spotted Caddis Fly - Colored Pencil

This is a colored pencil illustration of an adult spotted caddis fly (Hydropsyche cockerelli). I selected this for the subject of my third project for the class because it is a common species in western rivers and streams and during caddis fly hatches it makes up a large portion of trout diets. As a fly fisherman, I have used many fly patterns that mimic this and related species. I used museum specimens and photographs as references while creating this illustration. I am particularly pleased with my presentation of the shading on the legs and the delicate texture of the wings. Eventually, I would like to group this illustration with an illustration of a fly pattern that mimics this species and an actual fly I have tied myself.