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 as - pect ratio. This piece celebrates the insect world’s hunters: the dragonfly, renowned as the top preda - tor with the highest kill rate, and the lesser-known fiery searcher (Calosoma scrutator), a highlight of the show, which preys on other bugs as a natural form of insect control. The patterns are striking— dragonflies with elongated, mosaic-like bodies in vibrant greens, blues, and pinks form a symmetri - cal 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 circu - lar motifs complement the insect designs’ organic flow, reminiscent of Art Nouveau natural elegance.
This work aligns with the vivid wildlife depictions of British nature artist Alan M. Hunt, who specializ - es in animal paintings of the African hunt, capturing predators like cheetahs and lions with hyper-re - alistic 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
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The Fiery Searcher, Shoosty 2023
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