Blackberry Season
Colored pencil on Bristol board, 9 × 12 in.
Blackberry Season is an Eastern Box Turtle drawing by Michael E. Dorcas that captures the color, detail, and quiet charm of a turtle feeding among ripe blackberries.
GALLERY
This gallery presents selected original artwork by Michael E. Dorcas, Ph.D., with wildlife and natural history forming the primary focus of Tantilla Art. The work is shaped by decades of scientific observation, field experience, and close attention to the natural world, while also extending to human subjects, western themes, and other subjects approached with the same interest in character, structure, and presence.
Click any artwork to explore the piece and read the story, inspiration, and personal connection behind it.
Selected works are being prepared for future release as originals, signed limited-edition prints, and open-edition prints. Availability will vary by artwork.
Featured Works
Between Hunts
Graphite pencil on Bristol board, 14 × 24 in.
Between Hunts is an African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus) drawing by Michael E. Dorcas that captures two members of a pack resting together, inspired by his encounters with both hunting and resting wild dogs in South Africa and the remarkable social bonds that hold a pack together.
ATROX
Graphite pencil on Bristol board, 14 × 11 in.
ATROX is a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) drawing by Michael E. Dorcas that emphasizes the snake’s powerful head, watchful eye, intricate patterning, and the remarkable texture of its individual scales. Reference photographs courtesy of W. W. Lamar.
Mara
Graphite pencil on Bristol Board, 12 × 24 in.
Mara is a Nile Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) drawing by Michael E. Dorcas, inspired by his first encounters with these enormous predators along Kenya’s Mara River in 2003. Intricate scales, a watchful eye, and a softened reflection capture the animal’s presence at the water’s surface.
Survivor
Graphite pencil on Bristol board, 14 × 11 in.
Survivor is a Black Rhinoceros portrait by Michael E. Dorcas reflecting the animal’s immense strength, vulnerability, and endurance.
Texas Climber
Graphite pencil on Bristol board, 9 × 12 in.
Texas Climber is a juvenile Texas Rat Snake drawing by Michael E. Dorcas, emphasizing its bold pattern, reflective eye, and remarkable climbing ability. Reference photograph courtesy of W. W. Lamar.
Reptiles
Stealth
Colored pencil on Bristol board, 9 × 12 in.
A Yellow-blotched Palm Pitviper emerges from the darkness, emphasizing the vivid color, intricate detail, and elusive nature of this beautifully camouflaged snake.
Ambush
Graphite pencil on Bristol board, 9 × 12 in.
Ambush is a Copperhead drawing by Michael E. Dorcas emphasizing the snake’s cryptic patterning, intricate scales, camouflage, and quiet tension. Reference photograph courtesy of W. W. Lamar.
Eye of the Beholder
Graphite and colored pencil on Bristol board, 9 × 12 in.
Eye of the Beholder is a Green Anole drawing by Michael E. Dorcas that reveals the vivid colors, luminous eye, and intricate mosaic of scales often missed when seen at a distance. Reference photograph courtesy of W. W. Lamar.
Blackberry Season
Colored pencil on Bristol board, 9 × 12 in.
Blackberry Season is an Eastern Box Turtle drawing by Michael E. Dorcas that captures the color, detail, and quiet charm of a turtle feeding among ripe blackberries.
Salt and Sun
Graphite pencil on Bristol board, 14 × 11 in.
Salt and Sun is a Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) drawing by Michael E. Dorcas, inspired by his 2010 encounters with these remarkable ocean-foraging lizards in the Galápagos Islands.
Scarlet Secret
Colored pencil on Bristol board, 9 × 12 in.
Scarlet Secret is a Texas Coral Snake drawing by Michael E. Dorcas, emphasizing the vivid warning bands and hidden life of this rarely encountered species. Reference photograph courtesy of W. W. Lamar.
Ocean Traveler
Graphite pencil on Bristol board, 9 × 12 in.
Ocean Traveler is a Green Sea Turtle drawing by Michael E. Dorcas, inspired by encounters around the world and composed to capture the effortless appearance of flight through open water.
Aru Emerald
Colored pencil on Bristol board, 11 × 14 in.
Aru Emerald is an adult Green Tree Python drawing by Michael E. Dorcas, inspired by an Aru Island–lineage snake he kept in his office and his fascination with arboreal snake evolution.
King of Diamonds
Graphite pencil on Bristol board, 12 × 16 in.
King of Diamonds is an Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake drawing by Michael E. Dorcas, inspired by years of ecological and physiological research on this remarkable ambush predator. Reference photograph courtesy of W. W. Lamar.
Old Tortoise, Old Wood
Graphite pencil on tagboard, 9 × 12 in.
A Galápagos giant tortoise steps through a weathered wooden frame in this wildlife drawing inspired by Michael E. Dorcas’ visit to the islands, his encounter with Lonesome George, and the tortoises’ long history of endurance and exploitation.
Scales
Graphite pencil on drawing paper, 8 × 10 in.
A detailed portrait of a Green Iguana inspired by Michael E. Dorcas’ lifelong experiences with the species, from keeping them as a child to observing and capturing them during tropical fieldwork.
Fair Warning
Graphite pencil on Bristol board, 9 × 12 in.
Fair Warning is a Cottonmouth, or Water Moccasin, graphite drawing by Michael E. Dorcas that captures the snake’s boldly patterned coils and characteristic open-mouth defensive warning display. Reference photographs courtesy of W. W. Lamar.
Sinuous Beauty
Graphite pencil on tagboard, 9 × 12 in.
Sinuous Beauty is a Rough Green Snake drawing by Michael E. Dorcas (Tantilla Art) that highlights the large eye, graceful profile, and intricate scales of this beautifully camouflaged species. Reference photograph courtesy of W. W. Lamar.
Hanging Out
Graphite pencil on tagboard, 9 × 12 in.
Hanging Out is a Central American Eyelash Pitviper drawing by Michael E. Dorcas that captures the snake’s loosely draped coils, strongly keeled scales, prominent eye, and characteristic arboreal ambush posture. Reference photograph courtesy of W. W. Lamar.
Aldabra
Graphite pencil on Bristol board, 12 × 9 in.
Aldabra is an Aldabra Giant Tortoise drawing by Michael E. Dorcas that emphasizes the animal’s immense foreleg, weathered skin, and quiet, thoughtful expression. The artwork was inspired in part by the artist’s experiences working with these tortoises as a teenage volunteer at the Fort Worth Zoo.
ATROX
Graphite pencil on Bristol board, 14 × 11 in.
ATROX is a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) drawing by Michael E. Dorcas that emphasizes the snake’s powerful head, watchful eye, intricate patterning, and the remarkable texture of its individual scales. Reference photographs courtesy of W. W. Lamar.
Mara
Graphite pencil on Bristol Board, 12 × 24 in.
Mara is a Nile Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) drawing by Michael E. Dorcas, inspired by his first encounters with these enormous predators along Kenya’s Mara River in 2003. Intricate scales, a watchful eye, and a softened reflection capture the animal’s presence at the water’s surface.
Our Chameleon
Graphite pencil on Bristol board, 12 × 16 in.
“Our Chameleon” is a Green Anole drawing by Michael E. Dorcas, reflecting decades of experience with this familiar but often underappreciated southeastern lizard. Reference photograph courtesy of W. W. Lamar.
Nocturnal Reflections
Graphite and charcoal on tagboard, 12 × 9 in.
Nocturnal Reflections is a graphite and charcoal drawing on tagboard of a Spectacled Caiman by Michael E. Dorcas (Tantilla Art), inspired by nighttime encounters in Costa Rica and the eye shine that first reveals these feisty little crocodilians.
Whiplash
Colored pencil on Bristol board, 12 × 17 in.
Whiplash is a colored pencil drawing of a Coachwhip snake by Michael E. Dorcas, emphasizing the vivid coloration, bright eye, speed, and intense alertness of this powerful active predator.
Indigo Flame
Graphite and colored pencil on Bristol board, 9 × 12 in.
Indigo Flame is an Eastern Indigo Snake drawing by Michael E. Dorcas, emphasizing the orange face, glossy blue-black scales, and quiet power of this remarkable predator.
Marsh Girl
Graphite pencil on Bristol board, 9 × 12 in.
Marsh Girl is a female Diamondback Terrapin drawing by Michael E. Dorcas, inspired by decades of long-term research at Kiawah Island, South Carolina. Reference photograph courtesy of John D. Willson.
Komodo
Graphite pencil on Bristol board, 12 × 9 in.
Komodo is a Komodo Dragon drawing by Michael E. Dorcas, inspired by his 2015 encounters with wild dragons on Komodo and Rinca and the tradition of historic natural-history illustration.
Canopy Gold
Graphite and colored pencil on Bristol board, 12 × 16 in.
Canopy Gold is a juvenile Green Tree Python drawing by Michael E. Dorcas, reflecting his fascination with arboreal snake evolution and a captive-bred python he kept in his office. Reference photograph courtesy of W. W. Lamar.
Aware
Graphite pencil on Bristol board, 12 × 9 in.
Aware is a King Cobra (Ophiophagus sp.) drawing by Michael E. Dorcas, inspired by a calm but unforgettable behind-the-scenes encounter at the Fort Worth Zoo.
Breaking Through
Graphite and colored pencil on Bristol board, 14 × 17 in.
Breaking Through is a Gila Monster (Heloderma suspectum) drawing by Michael E. Dorcas, inspired by encounters with both a tiny juvenile and an adult in Arizona’s Santa Rita Mountains. Reference photograph courtesy of W. W. Lamar.
Old Snap
Graphite pencil on Bristol board, 9 × 12 in.
Old Snap is a Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) drawing by Michael E. Dorcas that captures the strength, age, and dinosaur-like appearance of this powerful freshwater turtle.
Texas Royalty
Graphite pencil on Bristol board, 12 × 9 in.
Texas Royalty is a Texas Horned Lizard drawing by Michael E. Dorcas, inspired by childhood encounters with a once-common reptile now threatened in Texas.
Texas Climber
Graphite pencil on Bristol board, 9 × 12 in.
Texas Climber is a juvenile Texas Rat Snake drawing by Michael E. Dorcas, emphasizing its bold pattern, reflective eye, and remarkable climbing ability. Reference photograph courtesy of W. W. Lamar.
Amphibians
On Hand
Graphite and colored pencil on Bristol board, 9 × 12 in.
On Hand is a colored pencil drawing of a Pine Barrens Treefrog by Michael E. Dorcas that presents the brilliantly colored frog as a delicate jewel resting against the artist’s graphite-rendered hand.
Trill
Graphite pencil on tagboard, 12 × 9 in.
Trill is a graphite drawing of a Cope’s Gray Treefrog by Michael E. Dorcas that highlights the frog’s mottled camouflage, reflective eye, expanded toe pads, and characteristic tree-clinging posture.
Mama Grande
Graphite pencil on tagboard, 9 × 12 in.
Mama Grande is a graphite drawing of a female Giant Toad by Michael E. Dorcas for Tantilla Art that emphasizes the immense amphibian’s broad head, heavily textured skin, prominent cranial ridges, and enormous parotoid glands. Reference photograph courtesy of W. W. Lamar.
Jungle Joker
Graphite pencil on tagboard, 9 × 12 in.
Jungle Joker is a graphite drawing of a Laughing Treefrog by Michael E. Dorcas for Tantilla Art that highlights the frog’s intricately patterned eye, broad head, banded limbs, and enormous adhesive toe pads. Reference photograph courtesy of W. W. Lamar.
Forest Pixie
Graphite pencil on Bristol board, 9 × 12 in.
Forest Pixie is a graphite drawing of a Tiger-striped Leaf Frog by Michael E. Dorcas that highlights the frog’s large eye, expanded toe pads, elongated limbs, and bold tiger-like patterning.
Birds
Blue Vigil
Graphite pencil on Bristol board, 24 × 13.5 in.
Blue Vigil is a graphite drawing of a Great Blue Heron by Michael E. Dorcas for Tantilla Art that captures the majestic bird’s poised stance, focused gaze, sweeping breast plumes, and quiet vigilance from a weathered perch.
Santa Ana Flame
Graphite and colored pencil on Bristol board, 12 × 9 in.
Santa Ana Flame is a graphite and colored pencil drawing on Bristol board of two Altamira Orioles by Michael E. Dorcas for Tantilla Art that captures their luminous orange-and-black plumage and the vivid tropical beauty that first impressed the artist at Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge.
Northern Ghost
Graphite pencil on tagboard, 12 × 9 in.
Northern Ghost is a graphite drawing of a Snowy Owl by Michael E. Dorcas for Tantilla Art that captures the heavily marked bird raising its broad wings as it begins to take flight from a stark winter landscape.
Warblers in Pines
Colored pencil on Bristol board, 18 × 14 in.
Warblers in Pines is a mixed-species warbler drawing by Michael E. Dorcas featuring five males in breeding plumage among pine branches.
Summer Pair
Colored pencil on Bristol board, 18 × 14 in.
Summer Pair is a drawing of male and female Painted Buntings by Michael E. Dorcas that contrasts the male’s brilliant breeding colors with the female’s subtler yellow-green plumage among arching green leaves.
River Sentinel
Graphite pencil on Bristol board, 12 × 9 in.
River Sentinel is a graphite drawing of a Belted Kingfisher by Michael E. Dorcas for Tantilla Art that captures the alert riverside predator holding a freshly caught fish in its powerful bill.
Sanderlings
Graphite pencil on Bristol board, 9 × 12 in.
Sanderlings is a graphite drawing of a small group of Sanderlings by Michael E. Dorcas for Tantilla Art that captures their pale nonbreeding plumage, softly layered feathers, and a quiet moment together at the water’s edge.
Scarlet and Gold
Colored pencil on Bristol board, 12 × 9 in.
Scarlet and Gold is a colored pencil drawing of male and female Scarlet Tanagers by Michael E. Dorcas for Tantilla Art that contrasts the male’s brilliant scarlet-and-black plumage with the female’s subtler golden-yellow and olive coloration.
Plains Drifter
Graphite pencil on tagboard, 12 × 9 in.
Plains Drifter is a graphite drawing of a Swainson’s Hawk by Michael E. Dorcas for Tantilla Art that highlights the long-distance migrant’s keen eye, hooked bill, layered plumage, and calm but watchful expression.
Tiny Terror
Graphite pencil on tagboard, 12 × 9 in.
Tiny Terror is a graphite drawing of a Sharp-shinned Hawk by Michael E. Dorcas for Tantilla Art that captures the compact predator’s intense eye, hooked bill, barred plumage, banded tail, and sharply curved talons.
Vertical Vagrant
Graphite pencil on tagboard, 12 × 9 in.
Vertical Vagrant is a graphite drawing of a White-breasted Nuthatch by Michael E. Dorcas for Tantilla Art that captures the agile little bird moving headfirst down a vertical tree trunk in its characteristically unconventional posture.
Offering
Colored pencil on Bristol board, 14 × 11 in.
Offering is a colored pencil drawing of two Collared Aracaris by Michael E. Dorcas for Tantilla Art that uses a shared berry to explore intimacy, connection, and attentiveness in the natural world.
Night Watch
Graphite pencil on tagboard, 12 × 9 in.
Night Watch is a graphite drawing of a Great Horned Owl by Michael E. Dorcas for Tantilla Art that captures the powerful nocturnal predator’s intense gaze, prominent feather tufts, barred plumage, and commanding presence.
Butcherbird
Graphite pencil on Bristol board, 9 × 12 in.
Butcherbird is a graphite drawing of a Loggerhead Shrike by Michael E. Dorcas for Tantilla Art that portrays the masked songbird perched beside a lizard it has impaled on barbed wire, illustrating the remarkable hunting behavior that gave shrikes their traditional name.
Jewel
Graphite pencil on Bristol board, 12 × 9 in.
Jewel is a graphite drawing of a Great Green Macaw by Michael E. Dorcas for Tantilla Art that highlights the rare parrot’s massive beak, pale eye, intricate facial feathers, and richly layered plumage.
Avocets
Graphite pencil on Bristol board, 9 × 12 in.
Avocets is a graphite drawing of three American Avocets by Michael E. Dorcas for Tantilla Art that captures their long legs, distinctive upturned bills, boldly patterned wings, and delicate reflections in shallow water.
Just a Sip
Graphite pencil on Bristol board, 9 × 12 in.
Just a Sip is a graphite drawing of a female Ruby-throated Hummingbird by Michael E. Dorcas for Tantilla Art that captures the tiny bird hovering with wings extended as it approaches a flower for a sip of nectar.
Grace
Graphite pencil on tagboard, 12 × 9 in.
Grace is a graphite drawing on tagboard of a Great Egret by Michael E. Dorcas for Tantilla Art that captures the bird’s elegant curved neck, extended wing, layered feathers, and quiet concentration as it preens.
Flash of Orange
Colored pencil on Bristol board, 12 × 9 in.
Flash of Orange is a colored pencil drawing of a mated pair of Baltimore Orioles by Michael E. Dorcas for Tantilla Art that contrasts the male’s brilliant orange-and-black plumage with the female’s softer golden coloration among green leaves and red berries.
Tribulation
Colored pencil on Bristol board, 12 × 9 in.
Tribulation is a colored pencil drawing of a Southern Cassowary by Michael E. Dorcas for Tantilla Art that captures the towering casque, brilliant blue head, red wattles, and intense gaze of this powerful rainforest bird.
Mammals
Long Years
Graphite pencil on Bristol board, 13.5 × 34 in.
Long Years is an African Elephant drawing by Michael E. Dorcas that captures the weathered skin, quiet strength, and enduring dignity of an elephant whose long life appears written across its face.
Jane’s Amigo
Graphite pencil on Bristol board, 12 × 9 in.
Jane’s Amigo is a Chimpanzee drawing by Michael E. Dorcas that honors Jane Goodall’s pioneering research while reflecting the intelligence, individuality, and complex social lives of Chimpanzees.
Little Gymnast
Graphite pencil on Bristol board, 12 × 9 in.
Little Gymnast is a Western Tarsier drawing by Michael E. Dorcas inspired by an unforgettable nighttime encounter with this tiny, wide-eyed primate in Borneo.
The Old Bull
Graphite pencil on Bristol board, 9 × 12 in.
Inspired by Michael E. Dorcas’ encounters with Cape Buffalo during four trips to Africa and his childhood fascination with Hemingway’s Green Hills of Africa, The Old Bull reflects the strength, weathered character, and formidable presence of an aging African bull.
Last Warrior
Graphite pencil on Bristol board, 9 × 12 in.
Inspired by Michael E. Dorcas’ unforgettable encounters with rhinoceroses in East and southern Africa, Last Warrior reflects the immense power, ancient presence, and profound vulnerability of the White Rhinoceros.
Serengeti
Graphite and charcoal on Bristol board, 12 × 9 in.
Inspired by Michael E. Dorcas’ encounters with vast herds and newborn animals across the plains of East Africa, Serengeti reflects the beauty, resilience, and abundance of the Plains Zebra and the grassland ecosystem it represents.
Night Stalker
Graphite pencil on Bristol board, 9 × 12 in.
Inspired by Michael E. Dorcas’ lifelong fascination with tigers and the accounts of Jim Corbett and the Champawat Tigress, Night Stalker reflects the stealth, power, and uncertain future of the Bengal Tiger.
Long Memories
Graphite pencil on Bristol board, 12 × 9 in.
Inspired by Michael E. Dorcas’ memories of seeing elephants living freely in Africa and by newsletters shared by his friend Bill Burnett about The Elephant Sanctuary, Long Memories reflects the dignity, individuality, and accumulated experience of an elephant’s long life.
Open Wide
Graphite pencil on tagboard, 12 × 9 in.
Inspired by Michael E. Dorcas’ experiences with hippos at the Fort Worth Zoo and in the wild at Lake Naivasha, Open Wide captures the contrast between their almost comic appearance and the immense power of an animal that demands caution and respect.
Between Hunts
Graphite pencil on Bristol board, 14 × 24 in.
Between Hunts is an African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus) drawing by Michael E. Dorcas that captures two members of a pack resting together, inspired by his encounters with both hunting and resting wild dogs in South Africa and the remarkable social bonds that hold a pack together.
Survivor
Graphite pencil on Bristol board, 14 × 11 in.
Survivor is a Black Rhinoceros portrait by Michael E. Dorcas reflecting the animal’s immense strength, vulnerability, and endurance.
Ocean Masters
Graphite pencil on Bristol board, 9 × 12 in.
Inspired by Michael E. Dorcas’ experience watching free-ranging orcas off Vancouver Island, Ocean Masters reflects their freedom, intelligence, and quiet power.
Long View
Graphite pencil on Bristol board, 14 × 11 in.
Inspired by Michael E. Dorcas’ first encounters with Maasai giraffes in southern Kenya, Long View reflects their elegance, quiet power, and connection to the African landscape.
Other
What Remains
Graphite pencil on Bristol board, 12 × 9 in.
Inspired by Michael E. Dorcas’ fascination with skulls and his experience teaching human anatomy, What Remains explores the intricate structure, individual variation, stark beauty, and enduring symbolism of the human skull.
Tradition Keeper
Graphite pencil on Bristol board, 12 × 9 in.
Tradition Keeper is a portrait by Michael E. Dorcas honoring individuality, dignity, and the cultural presence of an elder shaped by memory, land, and tradition. Selected for the 2026 Greeley Stampede Western Art Exhibition and Sale.
High Plains Rider
Graphite pencil on Bristol board, 12 × 9 in.
Rooted in Michael E. Dorcas’ Texas heritage, High Plains Rider honors the quiet dignity and enduring resilience of a working cowboy whose life has been shaped by land, hardship, and routine.
Symbiosis
Colored pencil on Bristol board, 9 × 12 in.
Inspired by Michael E. Dorcas’ fascination with clownfish and their remarkable relationship with sea anemones, Symbiosis reflects the vivid beauty and close biological partnership of the Orange Clownfish.
Mesozoic Mayhem
Graphite pencil on Bristol board, 9 × 12 in.
Inspired by Michael E. Dorcas’ lifelong fascination with dinosaurs, skulls, and reptile thermal biology, Mesozoic Mayhem explores the formidable feeding anatomy and enduring scientific mystery of Tyrannosaurus rex.
Plains Elder
Graphite pencil on Bristol board, 12 × 9 in.
Plains Elder is a portrait by Michael E. Dorcas reflecting dignity, experience, and quiet authority. Selected for the 2026 Greeley Stampede Western Art Exhibition and Sale.