Alyssa Glauser

A Portrait of Kleptomania in Sea Slugs

Mixed media - acrylic gouache paint/digital

About the Work

“A Portrait of Kleptomania in Sea Slugs” shows the incredible diversity of just one group of many commonly overlooked animals: invertebrates. This piece highlights how vibrant and variable these incredible creatures are. In addition, each of these sea slugs are thieves and steal different elements from other animals and plants in the sea! In fact, sea slugs are the only animal known to photosynthesize, which species A-C are able to do. Isn’t that amazing?

This piece was created using a combination of traditional and digital media. Each sea slug was painted individually with acrylic gouache paints on mixed media paper and then photographed and digitized to create the final poster. This allowed increased control over the final product in order to create a more cohesive and complete final composition.

Artist Background

Alyssa Glauser is a junior at the College who will graduate in January 2022 with a double major in Biology and Self-Designed Italian Language and Culture, Art History Concentration. Alyssa has loved both art and science for as long as she can remember and feels incredibly privileged to be a part of SciArt! After college, Alyssa plans to pursue a career in natural science illustration and hopes to find ways to incorporate 3D art as well.

Details about the sea slugs pictured:

A-C: Steal chloroplasts (kleptoplasty)

D & E: Steal nematocysts from cnidarians

F & G: Steal toxins from sponges

H: Selectively feeds on prey that is itself feeding (kleptopredation)

References

Krug, P. Elysia crispata [Photograph].

Krug, P. Kuroshimae [Photograph].
Wägele, H. Elysia timida [Photograph].
Aeolidiella stephanieae [Photograph]. The Sea Slug Forum. The Sea Slug Forum - Aeolidiella stephanieae.
Wight, B. Flabellina trilineata [Photograph]. The Sea Slug Forum. The Sea Slug Forum - Flabellina trilineata.
Loch, I. Chromodoris annae [Photograph]. The Sea Slug Forum. The Sea Slug Forum - Chromodoris annae.
Mullins, D. Goniobranchus splendidus [Photograph]. The Nudibranch Domain. Goniobranchus splendidus | Nudibranch Domain.
Cratena peregrina [Photograph]. NYTimes. When This Sea Slug Eats, It Prefers the Turducken of the Sea - The New York Times (nytimes.com).

Page updated

Report abuse