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California Tarantula

California Tarantula line art illustration (click image to enlarge)

California Tarantula full color illustration (click image to enlarge)

Artist's notes:

The California Tarantula was completed on 7.5.2010. Large arachnids, particularly black ones like this, pose a challenge with ink. You have to be able to show the distinctive features of the spider, but not lose the actual color of the animal in the process. For this drawing, I'd say it worked out pretty well. The eye seems to understand the shape of the animal. The drawing is based on a photo by Ken-ichi.

Information about the California Tarantula:

The California Tarantula is of the genus Aphonopelma. They are large arachnids, with legspans up to 7-8 inches long. They're found in arid, dry areas generally burrowing down during the day and hunting at night. Although during mating season tarantula males can be found roaming around during the day in search of a female. While the California Tarantula is venomous, the poison isn't extremely harmful to humans and generally the spider will rarely bite unless provoked. Tarantulas are carnivores feeding on smaller arthropods and insects. They cannot digest the animal, so the spider will secrete digestive enzymes which turns the animal basically into liquid form, which the tarantula will then ingest using it's mouthparts like a straw.