"Gather ye rose-buds while ye may." Robert Herrick

"Gather ye rose-buds while ye may." Robert Herrick

Hello Friends!

Friends, Romans, countrymen...y'all. Foodies, gardeners, artists and collectors - let's gather together to share and possibly learn a thing or two in the mix.

Donna Baker

Saturday, June 5, 2010

THINGS THAT GO BOOMP IN THE NIGHT

This Cecropia Moth (Hyalophora Cecropia) fluttered down to my farm in May. A giant silk moth, it is the largest moth in North America. She has a full 6 inch wingspan and is a beauty. Or, was. They have no mouth parts and can not eat: they are here for only 7 - 10 days; their raison d'etre is to mate and lay eggs before they go where moths go to die (it is in my drawer in this instance, that is, post mortem). The offspring, huge green caterpillars, spend all their time eating, I suspect, on hickory leaves, before spinning a cocoon then waiting out the winter to repeat the life cycle.


This is a close up of Cecropia. The males have larger antennae and the females, larger bodies. I painted her in gouache and am going to sell prints in my etsy shop. This life sized print is the first in a series of flora and fauna paintings I will be doing - and of course insects too. It measures 9 x 12 and is printed on ivory colored card stock paper. The print will be signed and numbered and sell for $18.00. PS ~ as an aside, may I comment that this print looks so much better than I have been able to photograph. I have tried every setting on my camera and not been able to get a decent reproduction of this print. Does anyone have suggestions? I have a Nikon Coolpix S630.

8 comments:

A Brit in Tennessee said...

How gorgeous, such a shame she doesn't live very long.
You are so talented, I can't wait to see all the paintings !
Jo

donna baker said...

Thank you so much Jo.

P.Gaye Tapp at Little Augury said...

So beautiful your work and the moth compellingly so. I have a great moth pendant-once a pin, love to wear it close to my neck and always get comments on it. These are lovely- pgt

donna baker said...

Thank you Little a; I'd love to see a pic of that pendant.

Terri said...

Hey Donna, Wanted u to know we are coming to Ozarks the end of the month! Soooo excited!
After hosing down Maggie Sat. w heat index of 108!!! I marched into the house and had a calm hissy fit. I said I was through with this state, the heat, the wind, the blowing dirt and the cold. The day he retired I would be leaving!!
End of the month we are coming up to Eureka Springs to explore. He still has to teach 2 years but maybe their is a light at the end of this Tx tunnel!

A Wild Thing said...

What a beauty, I've only seen one once in the wild...you have a wonderful style, I love it, the colors are beautiful...who knows what talents hide within us all, good luck with the prints!!!

Cindy said...

I wish I had a fraction of your artistic talent!

Jayme Goffin, The Coop Keeper said...

That is gorgeous! I've always been drawn to sketches of plants, birds and insects. Love it. Looks alot like a tomato worm - which I used to kill - but don't anymore.