Frances Jill Studd: December 2015

Thursday 31 December 2015

I spotted some newly hatched preying mantis running around on our front wall,

they are very tiny maybe just over 1cm long. I was most pleased to see the egg

case nearby though as it showed that it was a native mantis and not one of the

slightly larger ones which now seem to dominate. I believe that these intruders

come from South America and entice our local males to mate and become

eaten leaving no offspring.

The egg cases of the foreign ones are bigger and much more untidy and are

often seen around our wall as well, it must be a favourably warm spot although

there is no vegetation closeby.

Here is one baby much larger than actual size.

And another.

And here is the egg case.

All images copyright Frances Jill Studd 2016

Thursday 17 December 2015

This is a painting called Mt Tarawera, it is composed of pieces from several famous works,

paintings and architectural. The angel is from the 'Personification of Fame' by Bernardo Strozzi,

Mt Tarawera from 'The Phantom Canoe on Lake Tarawera' by Kennett Watkins, both of which

are shown above The Arch of Titus in Paris.

When I made this painting and collage in 1990 I used many appropriated images pieced together

for my work, now, so many years later, I feel as if I had a bit of a cheek.

However I still like this work and I like the angel, so here she is to wish everyone

who views my blogs a very Happy Christmas.

Mt Tarawera is a famous mountain in the North Island of New Zealand,

in 1886 it erupted with such force that a chasm was made across the whole mountain. It buried

the local landscape and villages in ash, about 120 people lost their lives and the

Pink and White Terraces a tourist attraction on the mountainside were completely destroyed.

Kennett Watkins made a painting of a phantom canoe which was seen on Lake Tarawera

the day before the mountain erupted and which is now believed to have been a

warning of the devastation which was to follow. It can be seen in the top

right of this painting with the moon behind.