Alamosa Public Library

The essays originally appeared on the watercolor page of American artist.

A fossil hunter looking for signs of an ancient sea in the rocks of a western Texas mountain describes how the area must have looked millions of years ago.

"Bring adorable sea creatures like octopuses and otters to life on high-quality art paper. Start simple with shading in a monochromatic orca, experiment with adding depth to color with a bright bobbing seahorse and practice stylizing your subject in a charming lighthouse scene. With inspired art and step-by-step instruction, it's easy to pick up a paintbrush, break out your palette, and create something beautiful." --

Iktomi, the Plains Indian trickster, interrupts a powwow of the Mouse People and gets his head stuck in a buffalo skull. Asides and questions printed in italics may be addressed by the storyteller to listeners, encouraging them to make their own remarks about the action.