Entomology by John Darley

"I initially set out to paint exotic insects after observing how strange, but also beautiful they are. As I considered the composition of the piece and began painting it, it became more interesting—not only because of the contrast of strange and beautiful, but also the contrasts of two-dimensional and three-dimensional, past and present, living and dead, symbolic and real. I find that subjects and artwork that entail contrast and opposing principles are the most interesting from both an aesthetic and interpretive standpoint.

To create this painting, I acquired insects from Tanzania, Congo and various other parts of the world, as well as a page from an old 1800s entomology book. The painting was created while I was living and studying in New York City and painted mostly in the late evenings." – JOHN DARLEY