Walking around with your eyes on the ground has its perks. I recently picked up a freshly dead cicada and marveled at his colors. His wing membranes glisten and shine like prisms or crystal facets-- but so fragilely. I tried to catch the color, but couldn't. He's grey and powdery white and an incredible olive and he looks like someone dusted him with gold dust-- that I was able to catch.
I've had dead cicadas before-- picking up pretty things is one of my peculiarities-- but this one's the most beautiful specimen I've ever come across. Not that everyone appreciates things like that, to my chagrin. It's a delight when someone can see what you see, not a delight when they refuse to even try to see the beauty in everyday things. I guess it is an oddish place, but most artists won't see it that way, I think.I'd love to do something with him, but can't think of a thing that would stabilize his fragile wings enough. If anyone has a suggestion, I'm all ears. 
As I wrote this I realized just how much of an inspiration he's been. Check out the colors in two of the pieces I made this week-- the olive tree necklace and the swamp thing necklace-- and my latest treasury.
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Find some inspiration in an odd place, or beauty in something everyday-- and tell us about it!
I see what you mean about the beauty, It reminds me of a piece of Labradorite. But I still don't think I would hold a bug that big dead or alive.
ReplyDeleteHe's beautiful, and his wings are so big! I wish I had some advice for you on how to stabilize him. I had similar thoughts when I found a dead damselfly in my studio a couple of weeks ago!
ReplyDeleteWe have had some success around here with shadowbox-type frames. Make sure the bug is perfectly, completely, totally dry! Don't ask me why. :-)
ReplyDeleteGenerally we've used a fabric lining, but you could bead a lining for the shadowbox if you were feeling hugely ambitious. The glass over the top gives a bit of glare, but can be compensated for with proper lighting.
He is beautiful but you wouldn't catch me touching him.
ReplyDeleteI love bugs. Cicadas especially, since they are big and odd and pretty much benign, for all that their call bears an uncanny similarity to a swarm of active jackhammers. You do well to draw inspiration from such a lovely find.
ReplyDeleteLove that swamp thing necklace...not sure I could do the bug thing...but I've been having fun with baby tree frogs at my house...
ReplyDeleteMelody-- I actually was thinking more in terms of wearable and that's the issue. Wear and tear is hard on the fragile")
ReplyDeleteHeather-- I heart baby frogs-- actually frogs, reptiles and all amphibians whether they're babies or not-- but babies are too cute!