Squirrels!

Lumi, Star, Toby and Parker

Our woods are currently well-populated with western gray squirrels. They often come close to the window seat where I’m writing, so I finally went out and bought some unsalted peanuts for them to see if they would linger. It’s a family tradition. My dad used to get squirrels to come up the fire escape of his childhood apartment in Washington Heights, NYC.

I got inspired to make a whole line of them, so here are the first four! I’m making the feet really flat on the bottoms now, so they’re free-standing, (although I wouldn’t trust them in an earthquake or a strong wind). Hence their toe beans are painted on, although the bottom of one foot is signed by me. And I’ll admit, throughout the creative process I’ve had a persistent craving for nuts.

Meanwhile, the local blue jays have shown an active interest in said peanuts, so I’m thinking about a run of bird people next.
Check out the new gray squirrels on Etsy!

---