Sherlock, Weta and the Ants, Ballpoint Art

Time to pull up finished bulb plants, I was amazed to find a few seeds every time I pulled up a dead stalk. "Ah! this is how this bull plant multiply". I was so happy to learn that I could have some more next year! so I went and planted them. I found a weta, NZ native insect, under a tree. After examining it, it was not a shell. It was a dead weta because of the uneven colour! I was so proud of my observation! so I put it on a plastic garden scoop. Some ants were around so I waited for them to go away.... I looked at the dead weta and tempted to use it as a subject for drawing

Suddenly I saw the tail end of the weta moved from side to side. "Oh! my God it's still alive" " No it could not be" then I think of Sir David Attenborough of the art of flying of birds.. the wing mechanism. I thought there must be a mechanism at the tail end of the weta to make it move with air movement. There was no air movement around.... 

I thought of the case of Sherlock I watched late last night and could not understand the images and the things in the head! Then I realised it was something between our observation and the truth, illusion. Sometimes observations do not give us the truth but illusion instead and illusion can be so big that truth is an illusion! To know the truth we must use speculation, interpretation .. at the end the truth come to us through logic, science!

"Ah! the tail must be moved by the ants! There're must be more ants inside!" Another few minutes, I was right. I was so pleased that I could solve the mystery of the dead weta! :-D... and understand what Sherlock was going on about .. :-DD

After all the ants were going away (because of rocking barn scoop!), I moved the weta inside for drawing!.. It was a bit of a challenge. I was not sure whether it was a good idea either. Anyway, I tried at least I might have a chance to see where I fail!.. It was hard to see even under the glass. The weta was half eaten. Some parts were transparent, some were not... After a moment, I thought I had the drawing look like the weta.. then to finish off I add some ants!.. It was fun!

More, now I understand Sherlock Holmes' shows a bit more. All thanks to the dead weta... and.. the ants! :-DD

Marvellous Insect Ballpoint Drawing, Weta and the Ants

Carnation and the Bee, Ballpoint

These are single bloom carnation. There was a butterfly came by the dashed off. I missed it may be because it saw me sitting there. I managed to include the bee instead! :-)

Flowers in garden are an easy way to attract insects, bees and butterflies which are vital for pollination.

I am not an expert in gardening. The carnation was planted in a tight place. However she survives. She made a tone of buds. Some manage to bloom. Many just dry off because of climate change plus my poor gardening skill! .. However, in the art sense, these elements gave more features and drama.. something you do not see in florists' shops! :-D

You see the story in my garden told by the carnation, dry, tattered (see the flower that had petal fell off revealing the centre and the one with no petal at all..)... it told me to go and get the water can quickly!.... :-D

Hope you enjoy the story!.. of our time! :-)

Wonderful Ballpoint Sketch, Garden Flowers and Bee

SURPRISED PROPOSAL FROM YOUNG CRICKET, Watercolor Black White Gray Insects, Flowers and Plants

My final Black White Gray world is a dream!.  It's a fancy bedtime story by myself.

One day, Young Cricket set off for an adventure. He could not fly yet so he climbed and he hopped. Soon he found himself in an amazing world of flowers. There he met an amazing creature. He thought she was an angel. It's even better than that she was real, a real butterfly. He was shocked, he was amazed, then finally he proposed something. I could not hear what he said. I could not hear what she said. But I saw the butterfly was taken aback, her tummy dropped and she nearly fell off the sky. I did not know what happened next or after that. I know since then life of Young Cricket would never be the same. He looked at the sky a lot. A day dreamer, so all other crickets said. With that story, I fell asleep. The dark sky, the dark in the painting make your eyes seek dark. So they close and your mind seek a passage into dream. This painting gave me a good sleep!. A surprise treat! it's another secret of painting that I found. Hope the story explains the composition, the color choice and the painting technique!...Oh I also found black watercolor is softer than ink. Try black and white painting, it might be the sleep therapy without medication!

Beautiful  Black White Gray, watercolor on paper, 42x29.5cm,

If you have any queries relating to the painting, please leave me a message via the contact form gadget on the top right corner of the blog.  Thank you for your interest.

DRAGON FLIES AND THE SWAMP CHASE, Watercolor Black White Gray Insects and Plants

I painted this picture from imagination and observation.  I live near a swarm reserve.  I love the tropical heat, the breeze of summer and I imagine the dragon flies of my childhood.  Obviously they're always there!  Just look at them!... like fighter jets on a chase!  Painting this picture made me realized my childhood walks with me every time!

Unique Black Grey and white watercolor painting nature, plants and insects, swamp, 29.5x42cm

If you have any queries relating to the painting, please leave me a message via the contact form gadget on the top right corner of the blog.  Thank you for your interest.

COSMOS AND THE BUTTERFLIES, Watercolor Painting and Drawing Insects and Flowers

What can a butterfly see?  Leaves, buds, flowers, seeds, coming and going are all the excitement of a flower garden life cycle and the butterflies with wings like flying petals!  I tried to see beauty beyond colors.  The other reason was I wanted to put more and more like life in the garden in abundant and does not have an end.  Everything in a A4 size.  Amazing what a small piece of paper can contain!  The whole world of the butterflies with all intricate details!  I think the picture summarizes the butterfly vision! :-)

Black and white watercolor painting nature, plants and insects, 29.5x21cm

If you have any queries relating to the painting, please leave me a message via the contact form gadget on the top right corner of the blog.  Thank you for your interest.

DAMSELFLIES ON BAMBOO, Watercolor Painting Insects

Tiny damselflies were my childhood favorite.  They took me into imagination.  Watching them help to relieve stress and relate to nature with their liveliness.  I painted them with my imagination and bamboo bush outside the window.

Black and white watercolor painting nature, plants and insects, 29.5x21cm

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LADYBIRD ON SPIDER PLANT (1), Watercolor Drawing and Painting Nature, Plants, Insects

I gently scooped a ladybird and put her on a spider plant and quietly observed her under a magnify glass.  Knowing where she was, I made a mental note on her position on the paper.  I did not want to dent the surface of untouched watercolor paper with pencil or eraser.  Fully aware that the brush mark would be permanent, I meditated for a minute then set go.  With a synthetic brush and diluted watercolor ivory black on a palette, I started with the lightest leaves first then went darker.  I pressed the dry brush down real hard to get the light effect on part of the leaves that bent toward the light.  Then I added the ladybird and the stem.  It was an enjoyable exercise.  I started another...before let her go back into the garden!    

Exciting brush work, watercolor on paper, 21x29.5cm

If you have any queries relating to the painting, please leave me a message via the contact form gadget on the top right corner of the blog.  Thank you for your interest.