Illustration Series: Backyard Insects Artwork Title: Perils Media: Hand painted with Wacom & PSP7 Feet tasting spittled food remains the uninvited dinner guest a transformation of new life born through bloated carcass. Potential sustenance of insect, bird and beast subject to children’s torturous giggles of wingless glee. Breaths of airborne poisons follow its shadows through winding webs of sweet sticking paper. Loathing travels upon damaged wing on a perilous journey of an urban jungle. . This is a common fly. Well known to Australian outdoors and a disliked intruder by most humans. This image shows him clearly, his fragility and vulnerability apparent with a damaged wing, the torn shape reflected in the tear of the leaf he perches upon. Although often considered repulsive by many, flies are needed in the larger scheme of a healthy environment and an important part of a complex food chain. I hope you can look past the anti-social labels and through this image see a beauty and wonder that can also exist. _______________________________________________ Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Hexapoda or Insecta Sub Class: Pterygota Division: Endopterygota Order: Diptera Common Name: Fly Specimen Location: Maitland NSW Australia _______________________________________________ This is one of what will eventually be a series of 24 insect illustrations. (I've currently completed 12, but all are not yet uploaded.) Each of these illustrations are hand drawn / painted using a Wacom tablet and PSP7. This collection of illustrations explore some of the interesting variety of creatures living within a very small radius. All of the specimens were discovered within a ten minute walking distance of the Central Business District of Maitland NSW Australia. As most residents and business people go about their daily routine they are often oblivious to what they would consider irrelevancies around them. These creatures, although often unobserved by all that pass, captured my interest and fascination. They were not chosen as subjects because they were exotic nor endangered but simply because they were part of my every day life. I attempt to explore and display the beauty of colours, pattern and shapes of some of the familiar creatures within my own environment. Each creature is presented with an air of importance. Their forms are large and dominating within the artwork ensuring they are no longer overlooked. I present a realistic depiction making them easily identifiable. They are produced in an attempt to create a wider environmental awareness. It isn't until one stops focusing on "self" that they can truly see, experience and mature. Have you looked outside of yourself today? Abandon self, summer breeze caress senses universe expands. ...Di (Hexagonal Mandala)