I just found an absolutely incredible Artist whilst researching (so I tell myself!) Steampunk Jewelry.
His name is Mike Libby and his website is the Insect Lab (link to follow) and he has been making all sorts of art, but these Insect pieces are just amazing.
Insects are his muse – to quote “Insects have always fascinated me and so does human technology, or maybe its more the need for humans to create and use technology that is more intriguing. Either way, the interest for me, and it is slightly a romantic interest, is combining two elements that are very opposite, yet compliment each other conceptually and visually.”
I find the same with the world of Steampunk and its inspiration from the Victorian Age, married with the Sci-Fi Technologies, which also inspire me to make my own Steampunk Jewelry and Art.
The Insects range from Arachnids to Butterflies and Mike actually uses dead specimens that he secures from scientific dealers from all over the world, from Africa to Brazil. Some insects he finds himself, such as Bumblebees or Dragonflies and he even invites people to send in their own specimens! For the gears, he uses antique pocket watches and wristwatches.
However these items are not cheap, it has to be said, my personal favourite the Orthoptera: Tropidacris Dux, a 5″ long Grasshopper made of steel, copper and brass gears, is $1200!
http://www.insectlabstudio.com/?
