My work is often influenced by my children.  We will often go off on tangents together (cocktail monkeys, cryptozoology, vultures and so on).  Our latest is the mantis shrimp.  If you have ever read The Oatmeal, you will know of his love for the mantis shrimp.  Go ahead, read his ode, I’ll wait.

So this project came out of our discussions and a sketch done by my daughter.  It took way longer than expected but the outcome is worth every stitch.