Victorian Violin Mantis

Artist:      Shoosty®    

Year:     2022

Medium: Duplex Printed Ink / 18mm Silk Twill 

Size:      36” x 36” 

Based on an actual creature called a Wandering Violin Mantis that kind of looks like the body of a violin. 

Throughout history, music and visual art have played off one another, with each movement affecting the other. 

Music and Visual art both involve the expression of emotions. Music often has a relatively fast set tempo or beat that the musician follows while composing or performing. This can create a sense of structure and predictability in the creative process. The genius of Miles Davis was breaking that pattern. For me, visual art has a different tempo. It’s slow and steady like a glacier using layers and layers of techniques, concepts, and mediums. 

Alyson Charles - Spiritual teacher, ‘... in the case of praying mantises, they can represent everything from precision to prophecy, contemplation to deliberation, as well as vision, prayer, perception, and synchronicity.”¹ she goes on to say, “This is a creature that encourages us to slow down and connect with inner wisdom and even sharpen our clairvoyant abilities.”

I like to think I make art with the same deliberate moves as the Mantis.                                                       - Shoosty