It must have been about a month....
into the Coronavirus pandemic self isolation that a Praying (not Preying as I initially thought) Mantis appeared on my kitchen window. I can't be certain why it randomly appeared there but the night was filled with moths and other insects that it may just be hunting for food. I took a closed up photo of it, which may have annoyed Mantis (yes, that is what I decided to call 'it') because it was moving its right middle leg up and down telling me to bugger off.
2 days later, Mantis appeared again. I used the word 'again' because I was convinced it was the same Praying Mantis as the last time based on its length and shape. My contact deprived mind wondered if it remembered me and where I live. Surely it came over to say hello. And when Mantis appeared in my bedroom a few days later (again purely anecdotal), I thought we may have become chums but I did relocate it to the veranda before sleeping just in case it decided to join me in bed.
I decided to sketch and paint this phasmid looking insect. Mantises are not to be confused with phasmids (e.g. stick insects). As I painted Mantis, I became in awe of its anatomy and phenotypical characteristics. The different shades of green and yellow and the different grooves and patterns on the inside of its wings. I wondered where it would go after our visit. Would it continue to find other places to feed? Perhaps a report back to its Queen? Maybe Mantis IS the Queen! My mind boggled!
(The Mantis Visit, 26 April 2020, Medium: Acrylic and Watercolours on Canvas)
At the end, I had plenty of greens and whites leftover that I decided to do another Feeler art. From no where, the Lady in the Garden appeared in my quick sketch. I thought she was beautiful and rather seductive.
(The Lady in the Garden, 26 April 2020, Medium: Acrylic on Cardboard)
