This squirrel series is the result of simply looking out my window one day - and seeing a little friend peering back at me from the blackberry bushes that guard my house. I was able to capture several photos of him romping through his grocery store, which I then used as references for these pastel pieces.

It was a struggle to render the texture of his fur and the subtle variations in color in his face, but that's what I love about working with pastels. Though they're a dry medium, it's possible to create a layered, almost glazing, effect with them similar to using oil paint. I was quite delighted by the results, which were much more vibrant, more alive works than the photos I'd taken. I feel like I can just reach out and touch my paw to his.