I discovered a Nineteenth-Century French law stamp in my grandfather’s collection, which had an engraved bee in the middle surrounded by scrollwork titled Reines Les Abielles, which translates to Queen Bee. The artist who created this artwork on a metal plate scratched intricate lines with a burin. The stamp has an uneven scalloped edge from age and perforation.
This stamp inspired an artwork I did several years ago, an example of how I combine a historical reference and nature for my subject matter. I used pen and ink to mimic the burin cuts and vintage soft colors of purple and yellow. It is a mixed-media collage using Prismacolor, watercolor, pen and ink, and polymer clay. (The actual stamp is collaged onto the piece.)
The symbolism of bees as “spiritual travelers” and their honeycomb, a place to store knowledge, goes along with its symbol for hard work and prosperity. With the thought of a bee traveling, moving from place to place, I sculpted the bee out of polymer clay as if it were coming out of the stamp.
However, you may think of bees; they are important as pollinators, thus the expression “busy as a bee.” I often say that about myself, going from one project to another, as a bee goes from flower to flower. Perhaps that’s where I have a personal connection to bees!
I plant bee-friendly flowers in my garden and am very aware of their presence with buzzing and constant movement. It might be a stretch to say there is any connection between the French stamp bee and a recent trip to France, where I experienced bee activity in Monet’s Garden and Dangeau.
This summer’s bee activity certainly motivated me to take another look at bees as my subject matter. I have started sketches for a 6” x 6” four-grid panel. I also studied their movement on a slow-mo video I made with my iPhone. I have observed them on my Calamintha plant, which they love and are in abundance. I have drawn continuous lines of their movement, and it has been fun without looking at my paper.
Please share your thoughts on bees.
