*If you are one of the many who've joined in with the Art Dispatch Newsletter, you will have received your Pre-Show All-Access Pass for the new painting "Melissae" - 'The Bees' full reveal this past May Quarter.
But! If you haven't yet subscribed or are just catching wind of the news, here is the full debut for the public, complete with the context, conceptual process, and additional print product opportunity with the artwork of "Melissae". {Subscribe to the Quarterly Newsletter here}
"Melissae", which means 'bees' according to some research, comes from the ancient Greek culture, and even before, when the Minoans thrived in the Aegean Bronze Age, on the Greek Island of Crete.
This painting is a small 6x6" watercolor, acrylic, and prisma color pencil piece on hot press rag, inspired by the legacy of the bees, created for the up coming Great Big Bug Show for June, in York, and in honor of the bees' intrinsically important role in our modern world.
I took no preliminary drawing measures in this process, but rather dove straight in and fleshed out the face of my concept onto the hot press rag directly, eager to get to what I knew would be a playful and dynamic 'conversation' between me and the diverse mediums being used.
Demeter is associated with bees, each having a link to the underworld, and regeneration, or life cycles.
And the bee was a prominent, noble emblem used by the Merovingians.
Today, praise the bees for maintaining the diversity in our agriculture. Without healthy bees, many birds, mammals, and ourselves would be at a loss for seeds, fruits, certain other plants and produce, and considerable dairy products.
The original, framed painting will be on display and available for purchase this coming month, June 5th - 27th at the HIVE artspace in York, PA. Gallery Hours:Thursday, Friday & Saturday 11-3pm, or by appointment - HIVEartspace.com
Order an ART PRINT of "Melissae" directly, here
SHOP "Melissae" tote bag, t-shirts, greeting card, iphone case, travel mug and more products here
But! If you haven't yet subscribed or are just catching wind of the news, here is the full debut for the public, complete with the context, conceptual process, and additional print product opportunity with the artwork of "Melissae". {Subscribe to the Quarterly Newsletter here}
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| "Melissae" - The Bees' - 6x6" Watercolor and Acrylic with Prisma Color on Hot Press Rag, May 2015 |
This painting is a small 6x6" watercolor, acrylic, and prisma color pencil piece on hot press rag, inspired by the legacy of the bees, created for the up coming Great Big Bug Show for June, in York, and in honor of the bees' intrinsically important role in our modern world.
I took no preliminary drawing measures in this process, but rather dove straight in and fleshed out the face of my concept onto the hot press rag directly, eager to get to what I knew would be a playful and dynamic 'conversation' between me and the diverse mediums being used.
I wanted to build up the experience of this face and these bees in a veiled technique of lush color. I also wanted to push and pull the focus, giving the most attention to the bees themselves, the honey-drenched lips of the girl, and the symbolic white pomegranates.
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| Photographed by and courtesy of J. C. Fleischman - FearlessMortal Photography, 2015 |
On my hand-deckled rag - meaning I worked the edges of the paper with a dry technique to create the rag "deckle" edge that you see - I toned the ground in watercolor washes, lightly building an impression of what would come in the acrylic and prisma color layers. Once in the opaque stages, vivid color and detail were the priority. Bees tightened up last, to get as softly fuzzy a winged delicacy as possible.
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| Process photo while on the painting board, 2015. |
Melissa, a popular girl's name translating as 'honey bee', has it's ancient roots in Greece, where a famous Melissa, a nymph, is said to have discovered honey. She shared her knowledge of honey properties and bee-keeping, and nursed baby Zeus with the sweet nectar.
Aphrodite is said to be known as the Queen Bee, her Melissae, or 'bees', the priestesses about her. Mediterranean cultures were riddled with the symbol of the bee; note the golden bee earring:
Aphrodite is said to be known as the Queen Bee, her Melissae, or 'bees', the priestesses about her. Mediterranean cultures were riddled with the symbol of the bee; note the golden bee earring:
Demeter is associated with bees, each having a link to the underworld, and regeneration, or life cycles.
And the bee was a prominent, noble emblem used by the Merovingians.
Today, praise the bees for maintaining the diversity in our agriculture. Without healthy bees, many birds, mammals, and ourselves would be at a loss for seeds, fruits, certain other plants and produce, and considerable dairy products.
Order an ART PRINT of "Melissae" directly, here
SHOP "Melissae" tote bag, t-shirts, greeting card, iphone case, travel mug and more products here
Enjoy the show!
-Mairin-Taj
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