About the Texas Rat Snake Drawing
I have encountered Texas Rat Snakes (Pantherophis obsoletus) in many settings over the years, but juveniles have always struck me as especially beautiful. Drawn from a photograph by my good friend Bill Lamar, Texas Climber focuses on the bold patterning and alert expression of a young snake before the darker adult coloration develops.
Texas Rat Snakes are remarkable climbers throughout their lives and can even scale rough brick walls. Juveniles often feed on treefrogs, while adults prey on birds, eggs, and small mammals. The deep black background removes the surrounding habitat and places all the attention on the reflective eye, overlapping coils, and intricate textures of the snake’s scales.
Texas Climber is a graphite pencil wildlife drawing by Michael E. Dorcas for Tantilla Art. Reference photograph courtesy of W. W. Lamar.