Tag Archives: scratchboard illustration

Frogs in Peril

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A deadly amphibian disease is threatening frog species worldwide.

In simple terms, the disease was spread by importing frogs from Africa and then releasing them into the wild.

This disease is Chytridiomycosis, caused by a pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, and has been called “the worst disease in vertebrate history” by one of the scientists studying it, Dr. Vance Vredenburg. Read all the details about the disease here, or a summary here.

In honor of frogs all over the world, here is a scratchboard drawing I worked on in collaboration with my mother, artist Barbara Dahn many years ago. She designed the drawing, and I rendered it in scratchboard. At the time, we were trying to raise awareness of frogs’ mysterious decline worldwide.

It seems frog decline is not so mysterious anymore. Hopefully, it isn’t too late.

DDahnFrogs

 

Delicate Strength

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This week I received my first blog post request.

“I’d like a poem,” she said.

“And more butterflies. But, not ones that are dying…something more fanciful.”

DDahnButterfly1

A scratchboard illustration I did of a fanciful butterfly

 

I had been thinking of writing about the frog fungus that is killing all the frogs, and then when the tornado hit Oklahoma, I couldn’t think of much else. Life is so delicate. So fragile.

But there is strength in delicate things, too. What is more delicate than a butterfly? Yet butterflies live amazing lives – sometimes migrating thousands of miles, and flying as high as jet airplanes. They’ve been surviving for millions of years.

Lives may be fragile and delicate but life-force is strong.

DDahnButterfly2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Here’s the rest of my butterfly illustration…

I did this illustration of butterflies and flowers on scratchboard (a chalk-covered board covered with ink and scraped with a sharp tool)

I did this illustration of butterflies and flowers on scratchboard (a chalk-covered board covered with ink and scraped with a sharp tool)

 

And, as requested, here is a poem.

Because I always do what my mother asks.

 

WordsworthPoemCover

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WordsworthPoem

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WordsworthPoem2