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Ocelot II

(125,514 posts)
Tue Jun 24, 2025, 11:26 AM 21 hrs ago

I wasn't sure if I should even post this -thing- because it's so weird, but

a friend had an old home-made, very rustic picture frame made out of twigs and stuff and he didn't know what to do with it, and he asked me to paint something that would fit into it. So I did, but after I did a little painting I glued bits of natural stuff to it to incorporate it into the frame. The spider is a common yellow garden spider, and there's a slug and some mushrooms (amanitas, probably) and nightshade flowers. It's more of a craft project than "art," but it was kind of fun.

69 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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I wasn't sure if I should even post this -thing- because it's so weird, but (Original Post) Ocelot II 21 hrs ago OP
I like it. SamKnause 21 hrs ago #1
He hasn't seen it yet. Ocelot II 21 hrs ago #2
I have always loved quirky things. SamKnause 21 hrs ago #4
Thanks, I strive for quirky! Ocelot II 19 hrs ago #41
I think this is awesome. LoisB 21 hrs ago #3
Thank you! Ocelot II 19 hrs ago #40
Outstanding! Feels like I'm outside. MiHale 21 hrs ago #5
Thanks, that was the idea. Extra points if it makes you itch or look for spiders. Ocelot II 19 hrs ago #39
I don't mind spiders one bit... MiHale 18 hrs ago #66
I think it is great! nocoincidences 21 hrs ago #6
Thanks. I wanted it to be accurate even if it was also goofy, so I used a photo Ocelot II 19 hrs ago #38
Not surprising to me but I love spiders. nocoincidences 19 hrs ago #50
I like it! surfered 21 hrs ago #7
Thank you! Ocelot II 19 hrs ago #36
Perfect! hlthe2b 21 hrs ago #8
Thanks, I was shooting for weird and maybe I succeeded! Ocelot II 19 hrs ago #34
I like it. I hope your friend does too. MIButterfly 21 hrs ago #9
Thanks, I hope so too. Ocelot II 19 hrs ago #33
I first saw it on my phone and I liked it. MIButterfly 16 hrs ago #67
I like it! Your creation for what goes in the unusual frame is perfect. Diamond_Dog 21 hrs ago #10
Thank you. I was hoping it would work and not look silly. Ocelot II 19 hrs ago #31
I would happily and proudly display this wonderful piece. niyad 20 hrs ago #11
Thank you! I hope the recipient hangs it up somewhere and it holds up. Ocelot II 19 hrs ago #30
Love it. sinkingfeeling 20 hrs ago #12
Thanks! Ocelot II 19 hrs ago #29
It's kind of a folk art piece. Very cool! chowder66 20 hrs ago #13
Thanks! That's the effect I was after. Ocelot II 19 hrs ago #28
Love it kimbutgar 20 hrs ago #14
It's disproportionately large, though garden spiders are pretty big, Ocelot II 19 hrs ago #27
Has a nice look of stained glass. Well done. yorkster 20 hrs ago #15
Thanks! Ocelot II 19 hrs ago #26
Looks like you can be an artist if/when you ever lose your day job. ancianita 20 hrs ago #16
Thanks! My day job is being retired so I'm stuck with it! Ocelot II 19 hrs ago #21
I love it! Joinfortmill 20 hrs ago #17
Thank you! Ocelot II 19 hrs ago #25
If you want to get someone's attention tell them there's a spider on their neck. twodogsbarking 20 hrs ago #18
Thanks! Ocelot II 19 hrs ago #49
Wow! Well done! ❤️ littlemissmartypants 20 hrs ago #19
Thanks! Ocelot II 19 hrs ago #24
Collages are art. Figarosmom 19 hrs ago #20
Thanks! The painting itself is in oil, and the spider has been varnished for shininess. Ocelot II 19 hrs ago #23
Those purple Deadly Nightshade flowers! Wicked Blue 19 hrs ago #22
Nightshade is a common weed around here. Ocelot II 19 hrs ago #43
It is very cute! biophile 19 hrs ago #32
Thanks. My friend is very cool with spiders. The yellow garden spider makes especially nice webs. Ocelot II 19 hrs ago #44
I think it's pretty cool. Texin 19 hrs ago #35
Thank you! Ocelot II 19 hrs ago #45
I like it, looks seriously 1900 to 1930 retro. marble falls 19 hrs ago #37
Thanks, I think the original rustic frame is probably that old. Ocelot II 19 hrs ago #42
It's good. Sellable good. marble falls 19 hrs ago #47
A nice way to honor Nature SheltieLover 19 hrs ago #46
I came home from walks with pockets full of twigs, bark, spruce cones and basswood samaras. Ocelot II 19 hrs ago #48
Lol. Artists call those types of things "found objects" SheltieLover 19 hrs ago #51
That's awesome 👍👍 I love it 💙 you are very talented TommieMommy 19 hrs ago #52
Thanks! Ocelot II 18 hrs ago #59
Ahhh! Nice! Reminds me of the one garden spider that we had in the front yard, after stepping out the front door. SWBTATTReg 19 hrs ago #53
Spiders are our friends, mostly. Ocelot II 18 hrs ago #60
Weird but creative. 👍🏽 live love laugh 19 hrs ago #54
Thanks. I think creative sometimes demands weird. Ocelot II 18 hrs ago #63
I find it interesting SalvadorOcelot chouchou 19 hrs ago #55
Thank you! Ocelot II 18 hrs ago #64
Love it democrank 18 hrs ago #56
Thank *you*! Ocelot II 18 hrs ago #61
Are you open to suggestions? CANADIANBEAVER69 18 hrs ago #57
Actually, I thought of that but I don't have anything that would be small enough Ocelot II 18 hrs ago #58
I mean it is a wonderful piece. I would love it if someone gave CANADIANBEAVER69 18 hrs ago #62
Thanks! I like the suggestion very much. Ocelot II 18 hrs ago #65
Weird is good! bif 16 hrs ago #68
all i can say is ,,, AllaN01Bear 15 hrs ago #69

Ocelot II

(125,514 posts)
39. Thanks, that was the idea. Extra points if it makes you itch or look for spiders.
Tue Jun 24, 2025, 01:42 PM
19 hrs ago

nocoincidences

(2,397 posts)
6. I think it is great!
Tue Jun 24, 2025, 11:33 AM
21 hrs ago

You even got that zig zag in the web that Garden Spiders always include.

Ocelot II

(125,514 posts)
38. Thanks. I wanted it to be accurate even if it was also goofy, so I used a photo
Tue Jun 24, 2025, 01:41 PM
19 hrs ago

from my field guide to spiders of the Midwest. Yes, I have a field guide to spiders.

nocoincidences

(2,397 posts)
50. Not surprising to me but I love spiders.
Tue Jun 24, 2025, 01:57 PM
19 hrs ago

Especially garden spiders. But also jumping spiders, they are just so cute!!

MIButterfly

(662 posts)
9. I like it. I hope your friend does too.
Tue Jun 24, 2025, 12:10 PM
21 hrs ago

I like that it's different and I like your use of color in it. It's unique.

MIButterfly

(662 posts)
67. I first saw it on my phone and I liked it.
Tue Jun 24, 2025, 04:50 PM
16 hrs ago

Then I saw it on my laptop and now I like it even more! Good job.

Ocelot II

(125,514 posts)
27. It's disproportionately large, though garden spiders are pretty big,
Tue Jun 24, 2025, 01:37 PM
19 hrs ago

but I wanted the focus to be mostly on it so it's a good deal bigger than it would be in nature. Kind of tarantula-ish.

ancianita

(40,765 posts)
16. Looks like you can be an artist if/when you ever lose your day job.
Tue Jun 24, 2025, 12:51 PM
20 hrs ago

It's aesthetically perfect for the frame. Thanks for sharing. This makes you both a lawyer AND artist, imo!

twodogsbarking

(14,114 posts)
18. If you want to get someone's attention tell them there's a spider on their neck.
Tue Jun 24, 2025, 01:01 PM
20 hrs ago

Very nice pic. Well done. An original.

Ocelot II

(125,514 posts)
49. Thanks!
Tue Jun 24, 2025, 01:56 PM
19 hrs ago

No matter where you are in the world outside the N/S poles, you're never more than six feet away from a spider.

Figarosmom

(6,430 posts)
20. Collages are art.
Tue Jun 24, 2025, 01:27 PM
19 hrs ago

Many famous artists worked in collage. Man Ray, Picasso, Matisse, Max Ernst among so many artists worked in the medium.

Besides it's fun and creative. Yours is spectacular. Hope you used a hardener on the spidy and flowers and shums.

Ocelot II

(125,514 posts)
23. Thanks! The painting itself is in oil, and the spider has been varnished for shininess.
Tue Jun 24, 2025, 01:34 PM
19 hrs ago

The surrounding objects were fastened with a glue gun so they should stick pretty well. Maybe I'll do another one some time.

Ocelot II

(125,514 posts)
43. Nightshade is a common weed around here.
Tue Jun 24, 2025, 01:45 PM
19 hrs ago

I've always thought the flowers were pretty.

biophile

(785 posts)
32. It is very cute!
Tue Jun 24, 2025, 01:39 PM
19 hrs ago

I hope your friend likes it; not everyone is cool with spiders. Birds might be a more universal choice, if the spider is not popular. I like them though and think your piece is clever!

Ocelot II

(125,514 posts)
44. Thanks. My friend is very cool with spiders. The yellow garden spider makes especially nice webs.
Tue Jun 24, 2025, 01:46 PM
19 hrs ago

I've done a lot of bird paintings, but the spider was something new.

Ocelot II

(125,514 posts)
42. Thanks, I think the original rustic frame is probably that old.
Tue Jun 24, 2025, 01:44 PM
19 hrs ago

At least the '30s if not before.

Ocelot II

(125,514 posts)
48. I came home from walks with pockets full of twigs, bark, spruce cones and basswood samaras.
Tue Jun 24, 2025, 01:52 PM
19 hrs ago

The neighbors probably think (correctly) that I'm, um, eccentric.

SheltieLover

(70,447 posts)
51. Lol. Artists call those types of things "found objects"
Tue Jun 24, 2025, 01:59 PM
19 hrs ago

Some of the best stuff to work with!

SWBTATTReg

(25,433 posts)
53. Ahhh! Nice! Reminds me of the one garden spider that we had in the front yard, after stepping out the front door.
Tue Jun 24, 2025, 02:05 PM
19 hrs ago

We had a beautiful garden spider who built his nest/web right there in the small enclosed garden area by the front door, and I always called him Igor. It's amazing what happens to lurk by, and make their homes along side of yours, isn't it? Nature and all of its glory. Can't beat it.

Ocelot II

(125,514 posts)
60. Spiders are our friends, mostly.
Tue Jun 24, 2025, 02:42 PM
18 hrs ago

Not a fan of the Sydney funnel-web spider, but that's Australia where almost everything wants to kill you.

CANADIANBEAVER69

(683 posts)
57. Are you open to suggestions?
Tue Jun 24, 2025, 02:30 PM
18 hrs ago

How about a crystal or small clear beads on the web somewhere? I love shiny things, so I add them to everything

It really is a great piece of art.

Ocelot II

(125,514 posts)
58. Actually, I thought of that but I don't have anything that would be small enough
Tue Jun 24, 2025, 02:41 PM
18 hrs ago

I do appreciate the suggestion, though. Maybe on another work if I plan ahead better - this was all pretty ad-hoc.

Ocelot II

(125,514 posts)
65. Thanks! I like the suggestion very much.
Tue Jun 24, 2025, 02:46 PM
18 hrs ago

And we seem to be thinking alike. In fact, the original iteration had dewdrops on the web, but they didn't come out right so I started over.

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