Why the Bee, Luna Moth and Dragonfly? By B.Aynsley Art

I collaborated with the Untamed Fernie to design a Limited Edition Collection of stunning back panels for their line of beautiful long tops to raise money for The Elk Valley Suicide Task Force.

From Pen, To Fabric

Each piece first began as a basic sketch to create something to fit an elongated size. Once the idea was complete, I then scaled down the size and drew the design, first with pencil, and then did the final layer with ink. 

From there, the design was scanned and transferred into a digital version, where I was able to clean up the linework and add the colour so it could be best printed onto fabric. Each of the significant elements (bee, lunar moth, dragonfly) was then added, and the colours were again rendered to best work with the imagery, size, and shape of the panel.

Why the Bee, Luna Moth and Dragonfly?

The Bee.

Because bees exist on almost every continent, there is a lot of cultural significance surrounding them. In every culture, however, they are viewed as one of the most focused and hardworking species. They focus on the exact flowers that need pollination, and through electric fields that emanate from flowers, they can tell which flowers have already been pollinated. 

As they are also very protective of their queen, bees can represent dedication. They are one of the tiniest, hardest working creatures that strive to reach their goals. 

Not only are they adorable and crucial to our planet's health, but they are also a reminder for me to keep working towards my goals and not give up on the things that bring me joy. Even the tiniest amount of progress is still progress.

The Luna Moth 

The Luna moth only lives for approximately one week in their adult stage, they do not eat as they do not have a mouth or digestive system. Whatever purpose they serve in the grand scheme of it all, I like to appreciate that their time is incredibly short. 

The Luna moth is fleeting, and while most people will likely take that as an indication of personal time, I like to remind myself that this is a creature that gorged during its larval stage in order to mature, reproduce, and die. As a caterpillar, it eats for a month to increase its weight, and the larvae shed their skin 4 times. 

Truly a creature of transformation, it becomes a gorgeous transparent green moth with brilliant eyespots and elongated wings. The luna moth spends the majority of its life going through hardships but triumphantly emerges, even for a brief time. 

Yes, time is fleeting and should be used in whatever way is most valuable, but more importantly, without the difficulty of growth, we will not emerge triumphant.

The dragonfly 

Dragonflies begin their journey in water before moving into the air, and they are known to change colours as they grow. For these reasons, dragonflies carry the symbolism of personal transformation. Some cultures recognize the dragonfly as the crossing over of a loved one. It is often believed that dragonflies carry messages from the deceased to loved ones on the other side.

The dragonfly is often seen around water, ponds, or on the edge of a river or lake, and traditionally, as water is a symbol of our emotions, seeing a dragonfly may also be a gentle reminder to explore our emotions in a light and joyful manner. 

My father was very often a critical support for my emotional health and reminded me to incorporate a lighthearted approach in everything I do. Even though we lived at a distance, our connection was strong and unbreakable.

He was often the support I needed, and in losing him, I found a new strength in myself. Every time I see a dragonfly, I say hello, thank him for the guidance, and remember that he is still with me.  

Learn More about this fantastic Collaboration with lots of amazing Fernie Ladies The Fernie Feel Good Collection

Love 

Brainne, B.Aynsley Art