Embedded Files
_x_, acrylic and beeswax crayon on board
Stripping beauty from “ugly” things to emphasize how we treat insects
Sketched with paint, did small layers to build up paint and realism, finished with crayon
Before this piece, I refined my inquiry question. I decided to explore generally why we think bugs are gross despite their distinct ties to nature/natural abundance, rather than just exploring beauty and ugliness using insects. Because of that, I decided on “stripping beauty” from an insect, showing that we deem bugs too ugly to be deserving of anything beautiful. This naturally lead me to the idea of a queen bee, and the crown being what is so beautiful.
I’ve decided on the insect for my next piece, being a caterpillar/butterfly. I chose that insect because I thought it could reflect my inquiry really well; the caterpillar being “ugly” and the butterfly, “pretty.” I’m thinking of playing with the changing of a caterpillar into a butterfly, and how that could reflect what younger people might do. Specifically, kids trying to grow up too soon before they’re necessarily ready.
Once satisfied with the composition and sketch, I practiced sketching the hand and the bee for accuracy. I did multiple hand sketches until I felt confident to replicate them in paint. Similarly, I studied reference photos and practiced bee shapes before incorporating them into the piece. Discovering gold acrylic paint during the process, I experimented with its effect, particularly on the frame and crown. The color and shine it added were interesting, despite not being picked up on camera. I tested beeswax crayons in my sketchbook and over the paint on the board, because I thought their uniqueness and relation to the subject made them a medium I really wanted to use. Their thickness and pigmentation worked really well in the background and on the bee figure, resembling pollen because of the board's texture. Towards the end, I explored a clear acrylic medium for the wings, aiming for a more convincing and translucent appearance. I haven’t added the medium to the piece, but I plan to in a few weeks or so once I can accurately evaluate the piece’s effectiveness. Finally, I also initially sketched bees around the frame and hand in my sketchbook, and I felt like the final piece lacked something. Experimenting digitally first, I decided to add extra bees for balance and generally enhancing the final composition.
References
Process
Page updated
Report abuse