I am late in posting this, it was completed a few days ago. I have debated on adding to the background. This is for a possible show in Germany, on Bees. I will keep you posted.

I had watched a Ted talk on Bees, and then the art of Petra Rau found me. Funny how things work. Her art is really beautiful. She is working on a project to bring more attention to Bees, their decline in numbers through out the world, and why we all need to be more active in helping them to survive.

Carpenter Bee, watercolor on 140 lb. cold press paper. © 2013 Sheila Delgado, 6 x 6

Here is a closer view for you.

Carpenter bees make their nests by tunneling into wood. Each nest has a single entrance which may have many neighboring tunnels. The entrance is often a perfectly circular hole on the underside of a beam, bench, or tree limb. Carpenter bees do not eat wood. They discard the bits of wood, and use some of the wood to build partitions between cells. The tunnel functions as a nursery, and for food storage. The blue Carpenter Bee is native to Malaysia.

If you read my earlier post, you know that it was a struggle for me to get started. I had so much fun painting this, that I have several ideas for more pieces. The background on this did not turn out quite the way I envisioned. But I am really attached to my true blue bee.

Hope you like her too!