Crayfish Family - Acrylic on Wood, 2016
The painting is a result of sketching at the Menomonee River with my college art students in the spring. They knew my interest in creatures so it wasn’t long before I was called over to see the crayfish in the water. Her brilliant colors were stunning but unfortunately, she had passed. I suspected there was life to be found yet though, so I began to pick up rocks near the shore to see what was underneath. Much to my delight, I found a dozen or so “baby” crayfish under one. My image depicts her alive with her young, as the water flows.