Deep Dive: Canine Conundrums by Cedarfell
Posted by Jasen Robillard on
Artists: Cedarfell
Puzzle Design: Siri Olson
Dimensions: 33 cm x 42.5 cm
Piece Count: 705
Difficulty: 6 out of 5
“Is there any point to which you would wish to draw my attention?'
'To the curious incident of the dog in the night-time.'
'The dog did nothing in the night-time.'
'That was the curious incident,' remarked Sherlock Holmes.”
― Arthur Conan Doyle, Silver Blaze
Table of contents
About the Artists
Cedarfell is a collaboration between two West coast artists: Aryn Bowers and Sandra Mejia Posada. For each of their prints and stickers, Aryn initiallly sketches the adorably cute animal tessellations and then inks each piece within the broader pattern. Sandra then adds the colour, texture and finishing details to give each animal a little more character and personality. Each of their nature-inspired creations invites us to explore the wildlife within. They live and create on beautiful Gabriola Island in BC, Canada.
"Every piece, like every person, fits together in surprising ways." - Aryn Bowers
Links
Shop: Cedarfell - Feline Tessellation
Siri's Puzzle Design Notes
Following the success of Feline Tessellation, we knew the other side of the pet-lover spectrum was waiting for their moment. With Canine Conundrums, we wanted to create a companion piece that captures the high-energy, loyal, and slightly chaotic spirit of our four-legged friends.
A lot of this puzzle design came together through small details and layers of personal memories. I've tucked a few personal touches into the whimsies. For instance, the lime green ball flinger is based on one I used to have. It's one of those fun tools that brings you right back to the park, throwing a ball way farther than you should be able to. Along with the flinger, you’ll also find a retractable leash. I never actually owned one, but I vividly remember the early 2000s, when they felt like futuristic technology to my younger self. Turning that memory into a whimsical shape felt like creating a tiny time capsule.
With 30 different breeds represented, the real creative challenge was conveying distinct personalities through whimsical poses. Part of the fun is that many of these breeds could be interpreted as different ones than I intended. Whether you see a specific breed or a beloved mutt, the goal remains the same: a puzzle that rewards the curious and celebrates the connection we have with our pets.
When it came to the breeds themselves, I took inspiration from the art and my surroundings. Some nods are playful, like the Papillon, which appears twice: once as a dog and again hidden within the butterfly art, a small tribute to its name (French for "butterfly"). Others are more sentimental. The Black Lab wearing a vest was modeled after Chet, a PADS service dog in training who was a frequent, tail-wagging visitor to the StumpCraft workshop while I was designing this piece.
I also wanted to honor the history of "The Goodest Boys." You’ll find Hachiko, the legendary Akita who waited nine years for his owner’s return. I based this shape on the famous statue at the University of Tokyo in Ueno. And, of course, no canine celebration is complete without a plate of spaghetti shared between two dogs that you’ll surely recognize from the silver screen.
Finally, the most rewarding part of this design was the large dog at the center. I didn't want the animals making up the core to feel like mere filler; I wanted them to feel like complete, independent shapes. Each one is designed to read as a full creature first. It’s only later, as you solve, that it becomes clear how they intertwine to form the larger dog. Because of this, some of the fits feel a bit unexpected—even "wrong"—until you’re well into the puzzle and the fits reveal themselves.
Whimsy List
Not dogs:
- 6x Bones
- 3x Collars
- Fire Hydrant
- Ball Flinger
- Retractable Leash
- Rope Toy
- Howling Wolf & Pup
- Dog family in heart frame
- Rubber Chicken
30x Dog Breeds:
- Afghan
- Akita Inu
- Beagle
- Bichon Frise
- Black Lab
- Border Collie
- Boston Terrier
- Bulldog
- Chihuahua
- Chocolate Lab
- Cocker Spaniel
- Corgi
- Dachshund
- Dalmation
- Doberman
- German Shepherd
- Golden Retriever
- Husky
- Irish Wolfhound
- Italian Greyhound
- Labradoodle
- Papillon
- Pitbull
- Pomeranian
- Poodle
- Schnauzer
- Scottish Terrier
- Shetland Sheepdog
- Shiba Inu
- Shih Tzu
Hidden secrets
Since this is a companion piece, look for a literal "Easter Egg" cat head—a hidden lock that serves as a bridge to its predecessor, Feline Tessellation.
For more secrets, stay still, just a bit longer.
