There is nothing subtle about the patterns on the wings of some moths. Simple or complex, bold or tonal in colour, always perfectly symmetrical, the variety astounding, these are truly beautiful creatures.
Living as an artist, photographer and designer in the lush rainforest of Kuranda on the edge of the World Heritage listed Wet Tropics of Queensland in Australia, it was only recently that I discovered the potential of moths as design elements in grander patterns, which I called “Mothology”.
Over the last year my palette has expanded rapidly. I have now photographed live over 250 different species in our home.
To begin with I made some fairly simple mandala-like arrangements. My first effort used seven moths and one ring-in butterfly; almost every moth I had in my collection at the time was included. As the collection burgeoned, so too did the development of the digital art techniques used to display the various moths. Before long I had moth eggs, balls, bubbles, baubles and balloons.
So, The Australian Mothology Collection began to take shape. My wife, Eve, would often exclaim: “Oh, that would look beautiful on fabric. I’d wear a print of that.”
What was the right fabric for designs based on moths? Why, silk of course! Which suggested silk scarves. Who doesn’t like the sensuous feel of silk against the skin? And so, SilkMoths emerged from the chrysalis of my imagination.
I hope you enjoy The Australian Mothology Collection as much as I do in creating it.
Let me know what you think at: info@leapfrogoz.com.au
Buck Richardson
The Australian Mothology Collection
