I made this book after my pet mantis passed away from natural age. Tony, who turned out to be a female chinese mantis (it can be very hard to tell), was an extremely interesting pet who I grew close to in a very short amount of time. I made this book in an effort to a) ease my own grief, and b) show people that insects are not as alien as they seem, and that humans can even form personal relationships with them.
"Tony" is a japanese stab bound book, with a base that extends to include a shadow box with Tony inside as a set specimen. She was missing her right forearm when I found her in the woods, and never regrew it.
All drawings are done in walnut ink with nib and brush, and tell the story of how I came to have Tony and her life with me.
