by Ruth Stanton

I enjoyed the wild/savage responses to this month’s Collective Challenge and thought I would add my own attempt at reaching out to the wild around us. I’m repainting a mat (which I cut down to half its original size after it was partially chewed up by a puppy I was pup-sitting) with quotes about our responsibilities for our fellow creatures and drawings of some of those creatures who live with us in Glengarry County—like the bear who came up on a neighbour’s deck or the porcupine that came up on our stoop and scratched on our door, requesting admission, or the beaver who built a dam up against the culvert under the little road that marks the south end of our property. 

When I set out to draw an animal, I find it difficult to get its dimensions correct, so I rely on references. I collect ten or twelve images for each animal and then chose one to trace so that I get my proportions right and place the eyes in the right place. I use a light box to help me trace the body outline and place the eye, determine the shape of the nose and so forth. Then I rely on the various references to help me determine the flow of the fur and the shading.

About fifteen years ago I made an animal-alphabet mat for my little grand-daughters, Natasha and Olivia. I used the grid technique for that project, tracing body outlines on grids that I drew on the insides of cereal boxes. I cut these stencils out and used them to trace body outlines on the mat, then filled in the details on my own. Upon reflection, I prefer that method, rather than relying on copying from someone else’s illustrations for placing details. It seemed to work just as well, and I didn’t fret nearly so much about accuracy.

I attach here a photo of the mat I’m working on now and the alphabet mat. My granddaughters outgrew their mat, and it now lies in front of the stove in my kitchen. It does no longer look the way it did in the photo. Sadly, the same puppy who attacked the mat I’m working on now also attacked the alphabet mat. This alphabet mat is one of my favourites, so I am keeping it despite the damage that naughty puppy did. Fortunately, that puppy is now a grown-up Bernese Mountain dog and has given up chewing mats.