Jezebel & Mistletoe Ed. 5 of 15

The Imperial Jezebel butterfly (Delias harpalyce) and the Australian mistletoe (Amyema sp.) have a special relationship. The caterpillars of the Jezebel feed on parasitic plant species such as the drooping mistletoe. In a group, writhing caterpillar clumps form cocoons of white silken webs on their food plant. In the first warm days of spring, they hatch into beautifully coloured butterflies, returning to lay their eggs on a similar food plant leaf.

This artwork was inspired by the sighting of a Jezebel in my local nature reserve, in which a large number of mistletoe plants are hosted on eucalypt trees. The bright red and yellow colouring of its wing undersides immediately caught my attention in the leaf litter.

This is a limited edition (a series of 15) of original prints created on 300 gsm Hahnemühle paper, 27 x 39 cm, unframed. The print itself is 21 x 29.5 cm and is created from a layered solar etching and linocut, with additional hand colouring.

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I'm a printmaker, my work focuses on the natural patterns and intricate details found amongst Australia’s unique fauna, flora and ecosystems. I use various printmaking techniques to create finely detailed studies of my subjects, often within abstracted, multi-layered settings that reflect the habitats and environments of each subject.

I started my printmaking journey more than a decade ago as a way to record my observations during fieldwork in remote areas (I have a professional background in archaeology, palaeo-ecology and science communication). My inspiration is drawn from years of travel and research across Australia’s diverse landscapes, as well as from local volunteering activities. My current focus on the Canberra region and surrounding high country, and on its threatened species in particular, invites you to stop, focus on, and appreciate elements easily overlooked within the landscape – a flowering bud, a blur of feathers, or a finely flaked stone tool hidden amongst the leaf litter.