“Napoleon” the leaf footed bug

Scientific name: Unknown
Geographic location: Brazil, South America
Artist: Jessa Huebing-Reitinger
Medium: Pastel on Wallis paper 16” x 20” 2006
Performance venue: Home studio
$2,500 framed

“Napoleon” is known to come from the Brazilian rainforest near the Amazon of South America. Commonly known as a leaf footed bug, he can also be called a passion vine bug, as you will find them often perched on passion vine flowers. Different species of this true bug can be measured at 2 to 2 inches in body length and have intense metallic or iridescent coloration.

The majority of Jessa’s insect portraits are painted with just the insect and no natural setting as the background. The intention of this is two fold. One, our planets’ diverse environments are quickly disappearing and the wildlife along with it. Two, is so the viewer would focus on how beautiful an insect really is, and not lose impact by blending in with its natural surroundings as insects do in nature.

This painting was created with the use of two separate photographs taken in the field. Jessa’s pastels are often done from photo reference instead of a pinned specimen due to the smaller scale of pastel paper.