Paintings 4


				*Trompe L'Oeil Paintings by Michael James Riddet* *Paintings 4*



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LOVEBIRDS

5" x 7" Acrylic. SOLD

"Lovebirds" is a romantic little piece showing some of the U.S. "love" stamps that have been issued over the years. The image is topped off with a small piece of ribbon tied in the shape of a heart. The stamps are painted actual size.

PAINTED LADY

14" x 18" Private Collection

"Painted Lady" illustrates a "rack", or pattern of tacked strips of leather, fabric or string that were stretched on a flat surface and used to tuck in letters, writing instruments, personal items, etc. Racks were used for centuries and finally went out of use in the late 19th century when we began to get a little more organized. Today, magnets on the refrigerator have taken over many of the same tasks.

The title of the painting refers to the Painted Lady butterfly seen resting on the wall.

GRAF ZEPPELIN AIR MAIL

Acrylic on Masonite 5" x 7" SOLD

DETAIL

FREE SAMPLES

Acrylic on masonite 12" x 16" Original is Available

The idea for "Free Samples" came about when I found the 19th century Seaford, Delaware cover advertising Raw Bone Super Phosphates. A tongue in cheek approach perhaps, but a few squirrel bones sent to the recipient seemed appropriate.

THE COLLECTOR II

Acrylic 8" x 10" Private Collection

A DELICATE BALANCE

Acrylic on board 9" x 15" Private Collection

FLORIDA HAIRSTREAK

One of my favorite American butterflies! My introduction was in 1962 under the mentorship of Thomas G. Brady, an avid lifelong amateur Lepidopterist. Tom showed me specimens he had collected in the 1920's in Southern Florida. By 1960 the species was thought extinct due to hurricanes, development and the overharvesting of its larval foodplant, "coontie", a type of cycad. In recent decades, both foodplant and butterfly were "rediscovered" in the Everglades region. Widespread planting of coontie as an ornamental in developed areas has actually led to the resurrection of this once "extinct" species. It took me 44 years to acquire this specimen as an ex-pupa from a captive breeding program.

Florida Atala (Eumaeus atala)

Acrylic 6 x 9 in Original is available

"LITTLE DAY FLIER"
This diminutive little moth is in the genus "Pyrausta", a large genus comprising more than 60 species in the U.S.A. I have only found this particular species twice. Both occurances were in my driveway and, unlike the vast majority of moths, found lazily cruising during the daytime (diurnal as opposed to nocturnal). Measuring a little more than one half inch in wingspan, this species, like many others in the "microlepidoptera" group are easily overlooked, even by collectors.

Original size 8" x 8" Acrylic on board. Available

AMEN

Acrylic on masonite 12" x 13" Sold

M.K. Baker, Cape Cod

Acrylic on Masonite 11" x 14". Available