I’ve always been interested in insects and spiders, but being small they are very hard to draw from life. Another option is to use dead specimens under a scope, which loses all of the magic of a heathy specimen. Getting into macrophotography has solved many of those problems. A while back I got a great 100mm macro lens and extension tubes for even better magnification. Later, I started experimenting with a triple flash lighting set up. After honing my techniques I’ve been able to get some good photos of really tiny creatures to draw and paint.
This sketch is of an female Arrow-shaped Micrathena spider. I found it on my mother-in-law’s property in Central Tennessee. Although they may look a little creepy to some with the large spikes on it’s abdomen, they are completely harmless to humans. Eventually I need to paint this because black and white doesn’t do them justice. They are beautiful animals with brilliant red, yellow and glossy black all over their bodies. Their Latin name is Micrathena sagittata. Micrathena means “Little Athena,” after the greek goddess Athena who was skilled as a spinner and weaver. The species sagittata is from the Latin word for arrow which describes its pointy abdomen perfectly. You have to like Latin… at least when the names make sense!
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