Insects
All of the prints are archival giclees produced by us and in our studio. The term "giclee" refers to the printing process. This process provides wonderful color accuracy and detail without the dot pattern of an offset lithograph. David scans the original and uses photoshop to correct colors. Color correcting is a skill and can go quickly or take days of trying. We have a large format Epson printer and use Epson's archival inks on acid-free Somerset Velvet paper. The inks are light-fast and under normal household conditions will not fade for 100 years.
There are countless species of insects in the world and their variety is absolutely stunning! They offer lessons in color, pattern and structure that leave me speechless in wonder! It seems to me there are rules that define mammals and birds but rules literally “fly out the window” where insects are concerned.
I admire the unbelievable delicacy of a dragonfly’s wings and their carnivorous ways make me very grateful they’re small! Dragonfly fossils from the Carboniferous period are over two feet wide! Modern day dragonflys are capable of eating their own weight in just half an hour and still want more. Another well deserved name for a dragonfly is Mosquito Hawk!
We are very dependent on the honey bee and so they and their complex society have been carefully studied with more to learn. Their dancing form of communication is complicated involving an accurate recall, navigation using angles to the sun, movements that indicate distance and an enthusiasm level to match the quality of the food. Bee’s are social to the point that one bee alone can’t survive. Life requires the hive.
So far… my work has included four species of American giant silk moths. They are all spectacular with a wingspan of as much as five inches. Silk moths fatten up as caterpillars. Their moth stage is reproductive and they don’t eat at all. They live about ten days and are gone. The luna moth is the most magical to me and if you are lucky enough to see that lovely lime-green creature you will never forget it. I’m grateful to my dear friend John Laskowski, for giving me moth specimens to work from. In Pennsylvania, he is known as “The Moth Man” and his enthusiasm for all things nature is legendary!
I’m sure more insects will capture my attention - I’m a great admirer of those that don’t bite me.