Amy Hein- Northern Leopard Frog Mug

This hand painted mug is made with brown stoneware clay and features a Northern Leopard Frog, native to Southern Alberta, Canada. Handwashing is recommended.

Mug measures 4 x 5 x 3.25” and holds 12 oz

The inspiration for this mug came from the idea that everything in nature is connected. Each eco-system and all the animals within them are connected and depend on the health of the Earth and human coexistence to survive. I wanted to choose a species closer to home, and one that is threatened in Alberta due to human impact. As a kid, I always loved frogs and was fascinated by their intricate patterns and spotting them in the marshes surrounding my house. The Northern Leopard Frog used to inhabit much of Southern Alberta, in the wetlands of the prairies, and now only lives in a few fragmented marshlands. These frogs face habitat loss in Alberta, and with their semi-permeable skin, they are susceptible to chemical pollution, causing diseases like Chytrid Fungus.

50% of proceeds from this mug will be donated to the Wilder Institute which works to reintroduce captive-bred offspring and head-start tadpoles. The Wilder Institute Calgary Zoo also focuses on conservation education based programming to teach youth about Northern Leopard Frogs and other at risk species. To learn more about their work please visit https://wilderinstitute.org/conservation/northern-leopard-frog/

Amy Hein (she/her), is an artist based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada who specializes in botanical illustration, handmade pottery, and watercolour painting all inspired by nature. Amy received her BFA in 2018 from the Alberta University of the Arts, and graduated from the Visual and Creative Arts Program at Sheridan College in 2014. Amy is passionate about bringing awareness to wildlife conservation through artistic expression, with a focus on the smallest of creatures, pollinators, plants, and the animals that need our help the most.

To see more of Amy's creations be sure to follow on Instagram @amyheinart