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Some Osmia Sketches

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Wednesday 27 April 2011

Some Osmia Sketches

The weather is still beautiful, if colder now and I am reluctant to be indoors. I spent most of the day out cycling and walking by the water, and failing miserably to get any good bee photos.
But eventually I made myself sit down with a sketch book, paints, a pencil and my models, two Osmia rufa bees. One male and one female.
Despite my best efforts to rescue, revive and release the lost bees (seven today), some have died. I found 3 papery little bodies when we moved in, curled up on the window ledges. As sad as this is I have to be practical and can make some studies which all helps my knowledge and understanding. And it’s a chance to pay a little homage.

osmia bee male
The males have long antennae and moustaches but are quite a bit smaller than the females.

osmias 2

Male and female Osmia rufa, casualties of .. well ….just of life… I guess.

Three days ago there were lots of males, now it seems just females are getting into the house. I suppose they are looking for a nest site and have taken a wrong turn somewhere in the labyrinthine wall cavities.

I am trying to get back to some daily sketching after what seems like a long time. Hopefully poco a poco, a little every day. :)

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9 Comments:

Blogger brigit said...

Sad - but very beautiful sketches Val. I've been sitting on my allotment this afternoon watching them buzzing in and out of their new bee hotel ... think i spotted first leafcutter of the year too! xx

27 April 2011 at 22:05  
Blogger Marcia said...

Yah you are back !! lovely bees Val, so happy to see your bees again.

28 April 2011 at 00:20  
Blogger Benjamin Vogt said...

So cool! That's all I have to say, nothing pithy....

28 April 2011 at 00:25  
Blogger John said...

It's such a real treat to be seeing your art work again.

28 April 2011 at 02:46  
Blogger Jennifer Tetlow said...

Beautiful homage!

28 April 2011 at 07:24  
Blogger Caroline Gill said...

These are delightful. You are teaching us such a lot!

28 April 2011 at 14:39  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Absolutely fantastic! You're truly gifted!!

28 April 2011 at 18:00  
Blogger Helen/patientgardener said...

As ever lovely pics - do you use a magnifying glass to get all the details?
Have you moved? are you still in Orlando

28 April 2011 at 18:30  
Blogger Africa Gomez said...

Hi Val, It is great to have the chance to watch them up close, even if is is because them get lost in the house. I found both males and females love Erysumum Bowles Mauve and I can watch them from my conservatory now, and they are also nesting in holes in the wall of my house. My husband thought they might be damaging the house, but I hope I have convinced him that they might actually be adding more mortar between the bricks as they are mason bees...

2 May 2011 at 23:28  

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