This is an illustration of a giant stonefly, also known to fly fisherman as a salmonfly, Pteronarcys californica. It is a common species in small, cool streams of the Sierra Nevada. Its presence in a particular habitat indicates to biologists a healthy level of water quality.
I created this illustration in a classic, traditional technique called Carbon Dust. It is a slow, labor intensive method, but yields beautiful results with time and patience. It was developed and popularized in the early 1900's by the highly esteemed medical illustrator, Max Brodel at Johns Hopkins University. In this technique one basically 'paints' with carbon dust, using pulverized pencil dust, and a small sable-haired brush, to slowly build up layers of tone, until one achieves rich, velvety blacks. One adds highlights by either scratching then out with a knife, or lifting them out with an eraser. The carbon dust technique is definitely one of my favorites, am I'm looking forward to the opportunity to create more illustrations in this classic technique.
