Bugs & Insects series in detail
Damsels in Distress
2017 • Pen & Colored Pencil on Smooth Bristol
In the real insect world, Damselflies lay their eggs near and in water, often in ponds. In fact, damselflies will not lay eggs in substandard water. Once laid, however, the eggs become nymphs and feed on a variety of food over the course of 1-2 years before they become adults and fly. Often, they eat water fleas.
In the absurd world, these damselflies are lining up to lay their eggs in the pond, but they are confronted by a very large problem - a nasty Frog that expects a kiss first. The sign says the pond is “safe & secure” but the damselflies - being able to determine “good” water - are skeptical. So far, no-one has taken the Frog up on his proposal. It appears to be a standoff!
In Memory of a Bug
2017 • Pen & Colored Pencil on Smooth Bristol
In the Real World, a VW Bug close to 50 years old probably has found its way to the scrap heap. After all, it’s not exactly an unusual car.
In the absurd world, however, this VW Bug waits in a shady barn lot, retaining some of its tangerine metal-flake paint that clings to the rusting metal as tightly as the resident honeybee hive has attached its combs to the inside roof. There’s still hope that someone will recognize the potential of this forgotten Bug and restore it to its glittering former glory.
Metamorphosis
2012 • Ink & Colored Pencil
Where does the color come from on butterfly wings? It’s partly created by teeny, tiny scales covering a translucent membrane on the wings that catch and reflect light. The scales cover the wing like roof tiles but appear as dust to the human eye.
In the absurd world, however, butterflies emerge from their cocoons scale-less, then head down the tree to make their choice of scale colors. They prepare for the scale barn by putting on goggles to protect their eyes as the color is sprayed on, coming out with the shimmering colors that endear them to humans. There are always a few color match mistakes – hence the “oops” fence, and if you look closely, you’ll see that a spider has infiltrated the line, hoping to get a black widow tattoo.
bee's life series in detail
A Bee’s Life
2011 • Ink & Colored Pencil
This was one my first drawings, and it’s an at-a-glance look at how a hive operates year-round. In reality, the hive comes alive in spring, as the queen makes mating flights to be fertilized by drones from nearby hives. She continues these flights into the summer.
In the absurd world, the queen waves her magic wand to fertilize the pink and blue eggs laid in the spring. By summer, feeding the growing hive is now the main activity. The pollen is brought in by worker bees, who await their turns to empty pollen into a processing bucket. In the fall, the drones are ruthlessly tossed out so they don’t have to be fed. In the absurd world, their exit is via a slide that leads to the cold outdoors, and only a few drones are allowed to remain over the winter. During the winter, real workers maintain the hive at a comfortable temperature through varying the speed of beating wings, but in the absurd world, the Queen is kept comfortable by the fanning of palm fronds, as befitting royalty.
Saloon Showdown
2016 • Ink & Colored Pencil
In the real honeybee world, varroa mites, wasps, and beetles are all threats to the honeybee hive. A vigilant beekeeper can protect the hive against a lot of invaders, and the bees themselves set their own guards.
In the absurd world, a guard bee takes on the role of sheriff, making sure wasps know they aren’t welcome. If these predators choose to challenge her authority, she’s equipped with the honeybee weapon of choice – bug swatters.
Educational Moment
2016 • Ink & Colored Pencil
When my son was younger, I would occasionally take time to explain something to him in more detail than he really cared to know at a time when he really wasn’t interested. He always referred to these learning experiences as “educational moments.”
In the absurd world, even bees have things to learn – like how to do the waggle dance that directs other bees to nearby pollen, and when to sting. This teacher looks like she comes from another generation and would not hesitate to use a ruler to whack knuckles. Her pupils seem to be paying attention, but as with many educational moments, their thoughts are probably elsewhere, just like real kids.
The Drone Zone
2012 • Ink & Colored Pencil
I confess I’m intrigued with drones, the only males in a honeybee hive. I’m not sure why. It could be the irony of them being totally necessary for fertilization purposes, but so unnecessary otherwise that most are kicked out of the hive each fall while the Queen rests up over the winter. More drones then hatch in spring, when the Queen again starts taking mating flights. Drones from all nearby hives gather twice a day in an area called the drone zone, waiting to fertilize a queen when she flies by, which helps keep the hive genetics balanced.
In the absurd world, the Queens from various hives have made themselves as beautiful as possible, and then wait for their number to come up so they can take a few laps to attract the drones wearing the “colors” of the various hives. Once the flight is done, the Queen’s court flags her back in with a checkered flag (hey, it is Indiana). Alas, the mating flight is difficult to film, and yet another nature photographer has been lulled to sleep (probably by the peaceful beating of all those drone wings) in a nearby tree, missing an opportunity once again.
Beekeepers’ series in detail
Waiting for 45 Degrees
2012 • Ink & Colored Pencil
In colder regions of the country, honeybees won’t fly during the winter unless it’s at least 45 degrees – and then they fly for a ritual known as a “cleansing flight,” which is basically a bathroom break. Depending on the day, the bees also might do some light cleaning – tossing out dead bees, etc.
In the absurd world, the bees are anxious to fly – it’s boring in a winter hive – and cluster around the hive windows to watch the thermometer (as does the equally bored beekeeper, who is monitoring the hives from a nearby post). If the temperature does increase to at least 45 degrees at any time during the winter, the bees will leave the hive for a bathroom break, as they usually won’t defecate in the hive. Near the hive is a basket of extra toilet paper – just in case it’s needed.
Where is That Swarm?
2013 • Ink & Colored Pencil
Anyone familiar with beekeeping knows that a swarm of bees to a beekeeper is like candy to a baby – they can’t resist the urge to haul out a nuc and bring the swarm home. As long as a beekeeper can retrieve a swarm before it’s too late in the season for the swarm to build comb (so they can feed themselves over the winter), finding a swarm is a win-win situation. The swarm has a chance to survive, and the beekeeper saves the cost of buying bees. Often a swarm is in someone’s yard, but there are times when the swarm is buried in the countryside or in a woods, and the beekeeper has to search.
In the absurd world, this beekeeper just can’t seem to find the swarm that he knows must be nearby, even with the help of binoculars … and the bees aren’t helping with the search.
Quilter’s Series in detail
Quilting Bees
2014 • Ink & Colored Pencil
It’s believed that the term “Quilting Bee” came from a comparison of a group of women working on a quilt together to the social structure of a bee hive. However, “bee” actually can mean just a gathering, so opinions differ on whether bees are truly involved in the definition.
In the absurd world, bees also quilt, with friendly spiders providing spools of thread for the great price of 5¢ each. And, as the sign says, beginners are welcome ….
Under the Dresden Moon
2016 • Ink & Colored Pencil
The absurdity, of this drawing is a bit subtle – I just liked the idea of a huge moon in a Dresden Plate quilting pattern, surrounded by stars resembling various star quilting patterns. The simple snowy countryside displays the beeyard, through which a beekeeper heads home at dusk in his wagon after a day of checking the hives. So maybe not too quirky, but nothing you’ll see in the sky from your own backyard. Seriously, would that not be a cool moon to see in the sky?