Honeybee On Wild Aster - Miniature Acrylic Painting On Silk Canvas - 3"x3" - FRAMED

This small nature art was painted by me for the upcoming ThinkSmall5 exhibition taking place here in Richmond, Virginia. The exhibit runs from November 6, through December 20, 2009.

Purchase from hundreds of works by local, national, and international artists at the 5th Biennial International Miniature Invitational, a special fundraising event for Artspace and art6 galleries.

The outside frame measurement of the above painting is 7.75 x 7.75 inches. The work is matted and protected under glass. I took the sipping insect reference image in October 2008 in my Chesterfield County yard ;0)

Artist - Carolyn Hietala

Blue Dasher Dragonfly..... a melancholy one.

Dragonflies have emotions?

Wouldn't have the faintest idea. I only know that images of them evoke varied feelings in me.

Yesterday I passed by the rain barrel and on a seed pod was a Dasher. I took off my glasses (am very very near sighted) and approached slowly until she was in focus. Let me tell you, up close and only a few inches away from her face..... it was way more exhilerating to view the creature this way than through a camera lens. Those eyes are mesmerizing! She was eating a bug, moving her little head and chomping her jaws. The sunlight was reflecting off those eyes, through them revealing their amazing beauty. It was a special memory that never went digital..... and that's ok ;0)

Blue Dasher Dragonfly - Pachydiplax longipennis

Odonata - Female

Photo taken in Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

Insect Backyard Nature Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

Northern Copperhead Snake - Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen - VENOMOUS

Serpent Bokeh!

Macro image taken in Richmond, Virginia

Chesterfield County Backyard

Poisonous Reptile Nature Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

life has all sorts of twists and turns..... we must adapt

A native wildflower Rhexia virginica aka Handsome Harry.

This little pink wildflower knows perserverance.

Photo taken in Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

Native Backyard Flower Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

Dragonfly - Pachydiplax longipennis - Odonata - Female

the sun is so bright.....

lol.....actually this Blue Dasher is using its front legs to aid in the positioning of an insect in its mouth. It is eating while resting on an iron crowbar I was using in the backyard the other day ;0)

Backyard Insect Nature Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Photo taken in Richmond Virginia - Chesterfield County

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

I wonder if this little fellow would appreciate being on Flickr Explore ;0)

I doubt that he would even care.

He's too self-absorbed these days just

pigging out on Hickory nuts ;0)

The squirrels are going literally nuts over the Hickory Tree beside the house. Day and night I hear the nuts falling to the ground. All day long the rodents feast on them..... and they are getting quite chubby. I took this young fellow's image through the window yesterday morning.

Eastern Gray Squirrel - Sciurus carolinensis

Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

Wildlife Nature Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

Great Blue Skimmer Dragonfly (Libellula vibrans) On Ribbon Grass

This innocent-eyed fellow is the culprit that had chased the Blue Dasher dragonflies into the woods a few days ago. Thank goodness he has left the area..... but I do appreciate that he had allowed me to snap a few decent photographs of him before leaving. Here he is resting on the ornamental grass that grows in the rain barrel ;0)

Nature Odonata Macro Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

(click on photo for larger view)

Image taken in Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

if I were a bug.....

.....i'd be breaking the sound barrier about now while SCREAMING!

Once again a hungry mouth prepares lift off to snatch another bug.

Hmmmm.....got mouthwash?

Blue Dasher Dragonfly

Pachydiplax longipennis - Odonata - Female

Insect Nature Macro Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Photo taken in Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

forlorn dragon of the wood

Blue Dasher Dragonfly

(click on image to enlarge)

Pachydiplax longipennis - Odonata

Photo taken in Richmond Virginia - Chesterfield County

Nature Insect Macro Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

if you did notice me..... you would not easily forget me!

This is my world.

Chinese Praying Mantis - Female Nymph

Tenodera aridifolia sinensis

Richmond Virginia - Chesterfield County

Insect Nature Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

time steals many things..........

memories get fuzzy

some fade forever away

and new ones keep us going

Nature Macro Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

American Hazelnut - Corylus americana Walt. - A Virginia Native Tree

Photo taken in Richmond, Virginia

Chesterfield County

Does anyone know how I might KEEP THE SQUIRRELS from eating all of the nuts this year? Last year I watched and waited for the nuts to mature only to have them completely gone in a few days. I have one large shrub that I would love to protect from their greed..... they can have the rest!!!!! ;0)

Flora Nature Backyard Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

Let's Share A Blue Dasher Sundown

Blue Dasher Dragonfly

Pachydiplax longipennis - Odonata

Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

As the day winds down, a dragonfly with tattered wings is found to be still hunting for insects on the Fringe Tree.

Insect Nature Artistic Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

I will capture your soul.....

.....did mine ;0)

Blue Dasher Dragonfly - Pachydiplax longipennis - Odonata

Wildlife Nature Insect Macro Photograph

by Carolyn Hietala

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

the sentinel

Flies beware!

Robberfly - Asilidae diptera

Hanging-Thieves

Wildlife Insect Macro Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Photo taken in Richmond, Virginia

Chesterfield County

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

WARNING! Just remember now all you berry pickers out there....... and you know who you are..... ;0)

Northern Copperhead Snake (Baby)

Luscious Sweet Blackberries

Find.....Pick.....Eat.....

.....and be sure to wear high boots

and don't pick too low to the ground.

Leave the snakes alone and they'll leave you alone!
Be safe, enjoy and please check for ticks later.....ha ;0)

Reptile Wild Nature Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Richmond Virginia - Chesterfield County

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

under the porch light

You never know what mischief might be

brewing out there as you sleep!

Chinese Mantis Insect Macro Photograph

by Carolyn Hietala

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

Moth being devoured in

Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

BOO!!!!!!!!!

Did I scare you? ...teeheeheeeeee!

Like my green bonnet?

Asiatic Dayflower - commelina communis
A blue native Virginia wildflower..... and a bit levity for the day ;0)

Taken in Richmond Virginia - Chesterfield County

Flower Nature Macro Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

when you first see me I am flawed, but your empathy makes me whole.....

My Beauty Brightly Shines

A part of this little dragonfly's leg is missing ;0(
Male Blue Dasher is glancing at me as it rests on a Fringe Tree branch.

Nature Odonata Insect Macro Photograph

by Carolyn Hietala

Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

..............conducting a symphony of hope.............

Enjoy the gift of life.

Happy Bokeh Wednesday Everyone!!!!!

Swaying in the wind are Flax and another miscellaneous plant that magically appeared after I had tossed discarded bird seed into the garden ;0)

Flower Nature Macro Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.