This is the first in a series exploring the intersection of human and insects vis a vis the folklore that has sprung up around them through the ages. This particular painting is 10x18 inches. In the south starting as far back as the 1800s there is evidence of people referring to dragonflies as “snake doctors.” This name came from the belief that dragonflies were in alliance with snakes and that they mended or repaired wounded snakes and restored them to their original vitality, particularly snakes who had been dismembered. Who knows what moment of magic between species the original source of this folklore witnessed, but I could not resist the opportunity to tackle this subject matter myself. In my version, 2 coiling copperheads caught in a moment of mating have been dismembered by a human and these dragonflies have descended in order to serve their purpose of stitching them back together. I have been practicing painting macro images of insect specimens for the better part of a year to get ready for this series. I hope I can distill the details of the 12 dragonflies in this painting and capture their shimmering, ethereal qualities, it will be a great challenge for me since that is not my forte. There will be a full landscape, sea and sky, so this one may take awhile.
Underpainting a WW1 Pigeon in a charming frame from the same era. Pigeons were used in WW1 to send messages between troops with the messages coiled in a capsule like container attached to their legs. Also around the same time there was some experimentation attaching cameras to them as a sort of precursor to the drone, although I didn’t see any evidence they were used this way during the war. Interesting nonetheless. 3in x 5in, oil on panel.
Zeus & Ganymeade Progress
oil on panel. 7 in x 11 in
Calydonian Boar
11/19/22 - 11 in x 14 in oil on panel, laying in first color layer on this wooly boar and co.
Spring/Summer Wrap-Up
Plenty of loose ends to tie up on all of these works from the past 6 months or so, but the end is in sight…
Detail of Io and Argos, 8in x 17.5in. Starting to lay in flesh tones on Argos and Hermes.
Hawk and Nightingale completed
The Hawk and the Nightingale is complete, here is a rough mock up of how it will look in the antique tramp art frame.
Steady Progress
I am building up color on this painting slowly but surely. I actually ventured out with a new blue on the palette (Gamblin Cerulean Blue) to try for a new pop of color in this new one. We shall see if I can get everything to harmonize in the end.
The Hawk & The Nightingale
The Hawk and the Nightingale Progress Shot
Currently on the easel is this underpainting of The Hawk and the Nightingale which is 5 in x 9 in. I got drawn in by the below interpretation by Gregory Nagy.
https://classical-inquiries.chs.harvard.edu/on-a-fable-about-the-hawk-as-a-strongman/