| Title | Backyard Food Chain |
| Artist / Creator | Elizabeth Sanford |
| Artist's Nationality | American |
| Place of Publication | Nashville, TN |
| Publication Date | 2013 |
| Process / Technique | Hand painted |
| Image Process | Hand-lettering, watercolor, acrylic and ink on paper |
| Structure / Binding | Tunnel book |
| Medium / Materials | Paper, book cloth |
| Paper Stock | Fabriano watercolor paper and cardstock |
| Number of Pages | 4 |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 9 x 7 x 5.5 inches when extended |
| Edition Size | Variable edition of 3 |
This tunnel book features one of the many battles for survival that enfold in the woods behind my house. The spicebush swallowtail caterpillars are easy to spot in their golden instar stage, feasting on sassafras leaves. In the background, a nuthatch creeps down a branch while looking for a different kind of meal. A linked chain of words meanders around the sides and back of the book. Each word in the chain may be coupled with the one before and after to form common expressions, such as “food chain” or “chain reaction.” Each letter of each word is encased in a green circle, echoing the green circular eggs of this butterfly.
Artist Bio
Elizabeth Sanford is a watercolor painter who was seduced by the book arts and now creates watercolor sculptures. She has been teaching art for more than twenty years and is currently an adjunct instructor at Watkins College of Art, Design and Film in Nashville. Her work is in many collections including the Evansville Museum of Arts and Science, the Tennessee State Museum, John Hopkins University and the Ringling College of Art and Design. Sanford holds an MFA in painting and drawing from East Carolina University and a BA in art from the University of Virginia.