I spent almost two weeks deciding what animal I would like to use for this project. My initial reaction was to use an Africanized Honey Bee. Then my second favorite was various breeds of praying mantis. Thirdly, I considered making a bat one of the main elements of this work.

I did pages full of sketches and studies for each of these animals and insects, before finally deciding that the snake gave me the most to work with in fluid, solid shapes and space. I did my first study, the one in the lower righthand corner in a little over two hours. My second study, done with torn paper in the upper lefthand corner, took well over three to four from start to finish. The remaining snake was a mixture of the two techniques, and took so long I didn't bother timing it. Sufficent to say I started when the sun was high in the sky and finished well after most healthy people head to bed.

The words were notes I jotted after I finished all three studies and was trying to decide what sort of mood I would be going for in the final piece.