Timber Rattlesnake
The main goal for this project was to bring awareness to the threatened status of the Timber Rattlesnake. Because many people are afraid of snakes or view them as a threat, I wanted to show the Timber rattlesnake in a more abstract way. I took inspiration from folk art because applying a story or personifying an animal paints them in a more intriguing light. I combined the folk art style with a modern abstract style to make an image that was both appealing to the viewer and held a deeper narrative regarding the snake. Though simplified, different textures and shapes were used to replicate those of the snake.
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Western Massasauga Rattlesnake
For the Western Massasauga, I prioritized the translation of the child’s idea over everything. To bring awareness of endangered species to children, it is important to understand what interests them and what makes them care about certain things. In this instance, the child chose to develop a story to make snakes seem less scary to her mother. Just like folk art, she personified the animal to make it more appealing and less threatening. In addition to creating a story, she was able to engage with materials that had the snake, therefore becoming more familiar with it and its threatened status.
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