Beasts of the Riverwards: A hand Drawn Coloring Book

Beasts of the Riverwards continues my ongoing celebration of Philadelphia’s neighborhoods through the animals people love most. Following Dogs of Fishtown, Dogs of Manayunk, A Year on a Farm, Cats of the Internet, and Dogs of Alaska, this newest collection pays tribute to the Riverwards and the wider city—its textures, blocks, small parks, hidden corners, and the pets that bring daily life to life. For more than eighteen months, Philadelphians from every neighborhood texted me their favorite animal photos. Each image became the starting point for a pen-and-ink illustration that captures both the character of the pet and the personality of the place around it.The process behind this series reflects the same discipline and curiosity that shaped my earlier work featured in Philadelphia Magazine (print edition), The Philly Voice, MSN, Yahoo News, The California Gazette, and Details Magazine. Every piece in Beasts of the Riverwards is hand-drawn in ballpoint pen—a medium that demands precision, patience, and complete commitment. There is no erasing, only adjusting, building, and letting the lines guide the final form. As the drawings grew, the collection became a portrait not only of animals, but of the neighborhoods themselves: proud, layered, affectionate, and unmistakably Philadelphia.This book is a thank-you to the thousands of residents who shared their pets, their blocks, and their trust. It is also an invitation to slow down, enjoy the details, and recognize the beauty in the places we walk past every day. Whether you live in the Riverwards, somewhere else in the city, or far beyond it, I hope these drawings remind you of the joy found in community, in creativity, and in the animals who connect us.#BeastsoftheRiverwards #JenniferScottArt #PhiladelphiaArt #PhillyArtists #PenAndInk #PetPortraits #Riverwards #PhillyCreatives #IllustrationArt #ArtBooks #IndieArtist #SupportLocalArtists #PhillyPets Read more