Artist: Shoosty® Year: 2023 Medium: Duplex Printed Ink on 18mm Silk Twill Size: 36” x 36”
It was a giant water bug that had been caught by the sand tide and drowned. It was about two meters long with many legs along its sides and a wickedly curved tail that ended in a glittering crystal barb. Its head was triangular with many eyes along its edges. It looked like a creature from another planet.
A hand-drawn vector graphic of a water strider on a circular stage with filigree on both sides. The water strider resembles a compass or a clock. The ability to walk on water is a remarkable feat of na- ture and physics.
Water bugs represent harmony in Japanese haiku poetry. For ex- ample, Matsuo Basho (1644-1694), one of the most famous haiku poets: A water strider Skims over the clear stream The summer moon Note - The thin lines of this design are a challenge for printers. They approach the smallest size the printers can reliably print. Finding the edge of your craft is the place where you can find mastery. - Shoosty®
A Literary Reflection on Water Bugs
Water bugs have appeared in literature from classical times to the present day. Water bugs have been used in literature to represent both positive and negative qualities, such as harmony with nature, resilience, predation, and corruption. Water bugs are remarkable for their ability to survive and thrive in various aquatic environments, sometimes even preying on larger animals like fish and frogs. Some authors have used water bugs as metaphors for human survival and evolution in hostile or alien worlds. For example, Frank Herbert (1920-1986), the author of Dune, wrote this passage about a giant water bug:
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Walking Bug 2
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