Calico the Wonder Horse, or the Saga of Stewy Stinker Page 2
In addition to creating movement and mood with angles, spirals, and circles, Burton selected the pages' colors to accentuate her storytelling. Soft pastels illustrate the quiet life in Cactus County, but when the scene shifts, the hues darken. Bright colors bring the story to a climax; while blue, during a violent storm, starts the denouement; and then a happy ending with a soft yellow.
In order to compete with what she called the "lurid tales" on the market in 1941, Burton knew she couldn't be a complete reactionary. In creating Calico the Wonder Horse or The Saga of Stewy Stinker she indeed proved to be quite original, paving the way for future works that incorporate graphic design into fiction.