Scolytinae Gallery (2024. top two images digital. Bottom two charcoal pastel and ink on cut paper, 11”x11” SOLD)
Yknow when you find a stick that has all those wiggly little trails chewed into it by beetles? That’s what I was looking at for these. Scolytinae (bark beetles) lay their eggs in the phloem of the tree, then hatch out and eat the living tissues beneath the bark. This usually kills the tree.
While I was working on this design, my partner told me that the marks they leave behind in the wood are called “galleries.” I thought that was nice. These beetles are considered pests, but just the act of sustaining themselves leaves something beautiful behind.
The top two illustrations were drawn in Procreate with the rotational symmetry tool. Then the design was put into Cricut design space and cut out on toned printmaking paper. I decreased the size incrementally and staggered it in layers to create depth. Charcoal pastels and vine charcoal were used for the shading. This piece was sold at auction to benefit the National Champion Tree Program, which measures and documents the largest trees in the United States (my partner runs it, go look at his beautiful tree website. You can nominate a big tree to be a champion!)