06/08/2025
I had a splendid time at the Strawberry Festival today! ✨️ A grand thank you to all who stopped by! 💖 something has been on my mind that I have been noticing this festival season in our area..
While I like seeing the entomology art community grow(preserved insect art)..Plagiarism, quality and ethically sourced materials and specimens are big concerns that have caught my attention.
Please be cautious when purchasing entomology art from other sources other than me. I ethically hand forage all of my materials for these pieces of art, meaning I forage and sanitize the moss, flowers, insects and other important gifts from Mother Nature. I do not over pick the moss or flowers and I do not kill any of the insects used for my art. All insects are local. When purchasing entomology art, please use Google lens and research to see if the insects are local. If they are not, they are extremely likely to be from over seas and bred for profit. Nonethical!
Another severely important step of entomology art is to 100% seal the artwork shut! This will keep out potential pests, mold, dust, and bacteria! Things can turn very ugly if the materialsare not properly dried and sanitized! Look for warning signs such as fog on the glass and gaps between the frame or dome. I also put a little special anti pest magic in my pieces!
Lastly, but just as important, plagiarism. No one likes to be copied. Especially after they worked extremely hard to create something so unique. Especially if its another artist who has purchased art from you and starts recreating very similar art without speaking to you or sending any admiration. Border line appropriation art. IMPOSTERS. Dyed moss, dyed flowers and farmed foreign insects do not make quality entomology art in my opinion.
I would love to teach a class or even just give tips, I genuinely do not want entomology art to end up with a bad reputation due to people not practicing the art properly!
