THE FIERY SEARCHER
Stephen Shooster, aka Shoosty, presents “Fiery Searcher” (2023) at the Shoosty Bugs exhibition in Daytona’s Museum of Arts and Sciences, a 36” x 36” painting on 18mm silk canvas with a 1:1 aspect ratio. This piece celebrates the insect world’s hunters: the dragonfly, renowned as the top predator with the highest kill rate, and the lesser-known fiery searcher (Calosoma scrutator), a high - light of the show, which preys on other bugs as a natural form of insect control. The pat- terns are striking—dragonflies with elongat - ed, mosaic-like bodies in vibrant greens, blues, and pinks form a symmetrical frame around the central fiery searcher, its body featuring vertical, ribbed patterns in greens
and purples, with a metallic sheen echoing its real-life counterpart. The background’s swirling, dark circular motifs complement the insect designs’ organic flow, reminiscent of Art Nouveau natural elegance. This work aligns with the vivid wildlife de- pictions of British nature artist Alan M. Hunt, who specializes in animal paintings of the African hunt, capturing predators like chee- tahs and lions with hyper-realistic detail. Hunt’s focus on the raw essence of hunters resonates with Shoosty’s portrayal of these insect predators, though on a smaller, silk- bound scale.
“IN EVERY WALK WITH NATURE, ONE RECEIVES FAR MORE THAN HE SEEKS” - JOHN MUIR, NATURALIST
The Fiery Searcher, Shoosty 2023
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