Egyptian Scarab Beetles
The scarab beetle was a prophetic symbol in the ancient Egyptian religion as it represented immortality and good luck. In modern, Western culture, beetles are often seen as a disgusting bug that rolls in fecal matter, juxtaposing the original glorification it used to receive. However, looking at some of the historical artist interpretations and images of this insect caught my attention. The beauty of the deep blues, greens and purples astonished me. I wanted to be able to make large pieces of this beetle the way the Egyptians did to emphasize the beauty of nature and rich history. On the left, the beetle is done in acrylic paint to emphasize the boldness of the colors that made me intrigued in the first place. On the right, I chose to work with colored pencils in order to draw out the slight striations on the shell and other textures the tiny insect displays.
Created: November 2018
Medium: Acrylic Paint (Beetle 1) and Colored Pencil (Beetle 2)
Dimensions: 12 in x 9 in (for each piece)
