Authentic and original outlet illustration titled, “Cicadas.”

This is an authentic and original illustration titled, “Cicadas.” You are viewing a complete textured and colorful painting of the seventeen year Cicada species, the Brood X Periodical Cicadas, also known as the Great Eastern Brood. If you are visiting this site and my collection for the first time you will learn the artist (myself) has a preferred pattern and technique when working on any illustrations. My biography describes my extensive career history in dementia care and psychotherapy. You will also learn I pursue individual subjects that are creative, relatable to readers, viewers and always with intent to be informative and educational. After reviewing “BehindtheSCbyJessica,” ETSY gallery, you will also learn I enjoy writing series. This cicada painting is the introduction (part one) of my current series. As an avid outdoor enthusiast, I couldn't resist taking a series of photographs from varied angles and close up perspective. It's been such a healthy outdoor adventure to explore Mother Nature in pursuit of the natural timeline and daily activity of these rare species. To further enhance my overall experience and better acclimate self with subject source, I navigated facts and history. This species is outlet also known as Great Eastern Brood. They live underground burrowed a couple feet under the surface, get their nutrients from tree roots, causing little harm to the trees. Every seventeen years, the first sightings are late April through mid May. Their reproductive cycle is important with females laying up to 600 eggs hatching 6-10 weeks later. There are sightings of holes in the ground as they burrow themselves throughout the cycle. It's a rare opportunity to see these creatures in their natural habitat and observations of their cycle is an educational adventure to remember. Phase one was the initial graphite sketch. On quality mixed media I sketched the dominant feature first and foremost, the centralized cicada. I then proceeded to sketch the other elements within such as the large and small scattered boulders and stones surrounding. The bold detailed pattern encircling the middle components is the grass, moss patch, foliage, and lichen noticeably seen in my original photograph. Phase two was the transition to color. With white, gray, black, green, red, yellow, and orange, I blended and shaded over phase one. This phase always helps visually guide my attention and focus on separation of the varied features within ultimately prepping for the final phase. Phase three was the application of acrylic paint. With the same colors used as in phase two and fine brushes, I painted over phase two. With intent to recreate subject closest to how it's seen in “real time,” incorporating an abstract perspective, I intentionally exaggerated features with size differentiation, color differentiation and the detailed pattern of elements within. One of my favorite aspects of this illustration was adding texture with extra layers of paint to thicken and promote a pleasant perspective of the white boulders and scattered stones. If you look carefully you will also see gray graphite linear details sketched on the rocks portraying the natural cracks and crevasses noticeably seen. Upon completion I sprayed it with clear acrylic sealant to prevent any damage or “bleeding of the colors.” The authentic and original illustration is available for purchase in print. This would make for an ideal housewarming gift or simply be a nice addition to an existing collection. Please enjoy. Jessica Ahmadi