by Anthony D'Attilio

    "This collection of more than 200 drawings by Anthony D'Attilio is an exciting introduction to the complex and fascinating field of plant and animal marine life. No matter which seashore you live near or visit on vacation, you will probably find some of its inhabitants represented in these pages.
    Mr. D'Attilio prepared these drawings carefully and accurately, but in the interest of making the plates as decorative as possible he did allow himself some artistic license. Thus the specimens on any one plate are not necessarily to be found in the same body of water, and occasionally their relative sizes are not strictly correct.
    You may be surprised, when you look at the covers of this book, by the wide range of colors and tones nature has subtly intermingled in her marine creatures. You can imitate this natural coloration, or you can use your imagination in selecting colors. The contour lines provided in the drawings can be used as guidelines for the subtle blending of colors, as in nature, or as sharp demarcation lines between areas of flat color, if your aim is more decorative. Whichever method you choose, enjoy coloring and creating for yourself either true-to-life depictions of marine plants and animals, or more fanciful creatures for framing and collages.
    The varied specimens in this collection represent some of the most common and some of the most exotic forms of sea life in the oceans of the world. We hope these drawings and the identifications of the creatures will lead you to a deeper interest in this fascinating area. You may then want to consult the more detailed field guides to marine life in your own area."

-Dover Publications