It is time for our second installment of life at the Huyck Preserve. The piece I am highlighting today was actually the first piece I finished while I was there, that  of a red spotted newt, Notophthalmus viridescens.

This adorable newt is depicted in it’s vibrant juvenile stage, with the red coloring. As they age the skin turns to a more green-yellow color, but retains the bright red spotting. These colors are an indication to predators of the neurotoxin they produce, tetrodotoxin.

I found this particular specimen near the frog from last week, in a creek bed I explored with a couple of the researchers also working and staying on the preserve. I have included a few images below, which I used for reference as well as stages up to the final piece. The piece was done in colored pencil and graphite.

Hope you like it!