Mantis Crew

This was a pivotal painting for me, it might not seem like much but it changed the way I thought of myself as an artist. The mantis, one of the most interesting insects, is commonly used in modern times to symbolize the femme fatale. This is due to their tendencies towards sexual cannibalism, yes the women occasionally consume the heads of their mates. In antiquity however they were diviners, mantis comes from the Greek word for prophet, and they could point you in the right direction. When a mantis crosses your path it is a good omen and a reminder to slow down, meditate, and listen closely to your inner voice.  Mantis crew is a gouache painting on black paper created in 2020.