I was thrilled to be a part of the Werewolf Calendar for a second time for the year 2012, here is my submission which was featured for May! I camped in Canyondlands National Park a lot as a kid, the desert is a great getaway when you need more open space than the woods provide. The colors of the desert in contrast to those of the pine forests of my home have always mesmerized me, so I tried to match some of the amazing palette offered by the land. This young werewolf, on a journey to collect precious salt minerals key to his pack's survival, is fortunate enough to experience some of the same intense hues found in the desert. The path is long, difficult, and often lonely, but he is grateful for the opportunity to experience such breathtaking and humbling views which few others are privy to.

Painted in Photoshop with a Wacom Intuos 3

My caption assignment

In the wild salt is a prized and often hard to find commodity, being both rare and crucial to animal survival. Animals have an appetite for sodium chloride that is so acutely well defined it is second in nature only to the desire for water. Natural salt deposits and salt springs are frequently visited by not only werewolves but other wild animals. Werewolves will also use these salt rich areas as frequent hunting grounds, knowing that other animals also have the same drive to seek out salt rich sources. Salt is often also collected by werewolves and stored in natural pouches made of animal hide. Many werewolves inhabiting regions where natural salt is hard to attain have formed a habitual habit to carry these salt pouches with them always. They are often seen hanging from their necks as a decorated necklace to conceal it's utilitarian nature.