My encounters with Gila Monsters in Arizona’s Santa Rita Mountains were both unexpected and unforgettable. The first was a tiny juvenile; the second was an adult whose heavy build, beaded scales, and deliberate movements gave it an extraordinary presence.

In Breaking Through, I used graphite and colored pencil to create the illusion of a Gila Monster emerging through torn paper, its blue-purple tongue extended as it investigates the space beyond the drawing. The trompe-l’œil composition is intended to recreate some of the surprise and immediacy of encountering one of North America’s few venomous lizards.

Although Gila Monsters are often viewed primarily through the lens of their venom, they are secretive animals that spend much of their lives hidden from view. This drawing reflects my fascination with reptiles that are rarely encountered, frequently misunderstood, and closely connected to the desert and mountain landscapes they inhabit.

Reference photograph courtesy of W. W. Lamar.