The Art of Spiders and Flies

Andestine · #1 (**permalink**) 19-11-2010, 06:31 AM

OK. It looks as if we’re all a bit lacking in motivation in this cold weather, so I think a challenge is in order

Over time I’ll be starting threads concentrating on different invertebrates and inviting you all to contribute if it inspires you. And, of course, if anyone wants to do the same, and create ongoing threads featuring their favourite spined or spineless ones, that would be perfect

I keep doing things that I *ought* to do, instead of art, so creating this thread is a way of motivating myself to actually draw something. Today! And I will promise to post something before sundown.

I’ve had great difficulties choosing my favourites, and couldn’t decide between spiders and flies….so I didn’t

On this thread any kinds of spiders or flies can be rendered in any medium whatsoever, in 2 or 3D, using digital art, collage, carving etc, and from sketches to finished artworks in any style from academic to semiabstract.

Also, if anyone has any favourite depictions of spiders or flies done by present or past artists I’d very much like to see them posted here as well. I think it would be very inspiring.

I’ll be posting later today, as promised, but I hope to have company here before too long

Cheers

Andestine
(With thanks to Theresa for giving me the idea

)

Andestine · #2 (**permalink**) 19-11-2010, 01:10 PM

Ah.....I have to play nurse again for Spratlet this afternoon, so will not win my race against the setting sun (shades of Dracula racing for his castle

).

I've just taken an hour getting lost in doing the initial rough drawing. I'm famous for neglecting that bit and then regretting it bitterly at the end, so this time I'm trying to get the placement right. There will be more to the finished work than currently meets the eye, but I'm not telling

Also could not find the Japanese fly drawings I was hoping to post, but did locate two of my favourite Odilon Redon artworks. Just wish I had time to find out why he did these with ten legs....

Must dash now. Until tomorrow,

Cheers,

Andestine

Eight legs is quite enough for me to cope with

Odilon Redon, The Crying Spider:

Odilon Redon, The Smiling Spider:

sunnydale · #3 (**permalink**) 19-11-2010, 03:14 PM

Hmmm, I'm not at all sure about the 'Crying Spider' or the motive behind such a creation. I'll have to research it to understand.

To me, it's bordering on disturbing....almost sinister, I suppose. I know the tears obviously depict sadness....but the picture seems to go deeper than that somehow.
Strange....

bigdave60dog · #4 (**permalink**) 19-11-2010, 03:35 PM

For me personally "The Life of the Spider" by Fabre does in words what no picture can do. It gets into the "soul" of the Spider.
Dave

Andestine · #5 (**permalink**) 20-11-2010, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunnydale

Hmmm, I'm not at all sure about the 'Crying Spider' or the motive behind such a creation. I'll have to research it to understand.

To me, it's bordering on disturbing....almost sinister, I suppose. I know the tears obviously depict sadness....but the picture seems to go deeper than that somehow.
Strange....

I totally agree. Very few things disturb me and I also don't know why his works do. Egon Schiele discomforts me in another very ambivalent way, but Odilon Redon does indeed seem to reach deeper inside, and, like you, I'll be looking further into the man and his life in search of clues or an answer. But there may not be one, of course

Andestine · #6 (**permalink**) 20-11-2010, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigdave60dog

For me personally "The Life of the Spider" by Fabre does in words what no picture can do. It gets into the "soul" of the Spider.
Dave

I agree that no picture can reveal the soul of a spider. I included Odilon Redon's works for fun and interest, and, to use a worn cliché, it certainly tells us more about Odilon than about spiders. At least, I think it does. Must do more research on the man before speaking further

Thank you so much for your mention of the Fabre book. I've just had a peek at some excepts from it on Google books and thoroughly enjoyed his dramatic style of writing, so I've just ordered an old hardcover edition this very moment

I'm still teaching myself to read French so that I can enjoy French literature in the original, but I'm only up to 'Le Petit Prince' level

. One day I hope to be able to read a copy of 'The Life of the Spider' in the author's native language

Last year Spider No.9 Spider recommended John Crompton's 'The Spider' which I enjoyed reading over the course of my aestivation. As Carl had warned, the book is old and the science a bif iffy at times (but easlily corrected with a bit of research), and a very good read all the same, especially to someone like me who is just starting to appreciate spiders.

How well do you feel that Fabre's book has withstood the test of time?

Cheers,

Andestine

P.S. Do you draw, by any chance? (Don't feel hunted, by the way, I ask everyone the same question

).