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Ocelot II

(127,422 posts)
Tue Jun 24, 2025, 11:26 AM Jun 2025

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.

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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 Jun 2025 OP
I like it. SamKnause Jun 2025 #1
He hasn't seen it yet. Ocelot II Jun 2025 #2
I have always loved quirky things. SamKnause Jun 2025 #4
Thanks, I strive for quirky! Ocelot II Jun 2025 #41
I think this is awesome. LoisB Jun 2025 #3
Thank you! Ocelot II Jun 2025 #40
Outstanding! Feels like I'm outside. MiHale Jun 2025 #5
Thanks, that was the idea. Extra points if it makes you itch or look for spiders. Ocelot II Jun 2025 #39
I don't mind spiders one bit... MiHale Jun 2025 #66
I think it is great! nocoincidences Jun 2025 #6
Thanks. I wanted it to be accurate even if it was also goofy, so I used a photo Ocelot II Jun 2025 #38
Not surprising to me but I love spiders. nocoincidences Jun 2025 #50
I like it! surfered Jun 2025 #7
Thank you! Ocelot II Jun 2025 #36
Perfect! hlthe2b Jun 2025 #8
Thanks, I was shooting for weird and maybe I succeeded! Ocelot II Jun 2025 #34
I like it. I hope your friend does too. MIButterfly Jun 2025 #9
Thanks, I hope so too. Ocelot II Jun 2025 #33
I first saw it on my phone and I liked it. MIButterfly Jun 2025 #67
I like it! Your creation for what goes in the unusual frame is perfect. Diamond_Dog Jun 2025 #10
Thank you. I was hoping it would work and not look silly. Ocelot II Jun 2025 #31
I would happily and proudly display this wonderful piece. niyad Jun 2025 #11
Thank you! I hope the recipient hangs it up somewhere and it holds up. Ocelot II Jun 2025 #30
Love it. sinkingfeeling Jun 2025 #12
Thanks! Ocelot II Jun 2025 #29
It's kind of a folk art piece. Very cool! chowder66 Jun 2025 #13
Thanks! That's the effect I was after. Ocelot II Jun 2025 #28
Love it kimbutgar Jun 2025 #14
It's disproportionately large, though garden spiders are pretty big, Ocelot II Jun 2025 #27
Has a nice look of stained glass. Well done. yorkster Jun 2025 #15
Thanks! Ocelot II Jun 2025 #26
Looks like you can be an artist if/when you ever lose your day job. ancianita Jun 2025 #16
Thanks! My day job is being retired so I'm stuck with it! Ocelot II Jun 2025 #21
I love it! Joinfortmill Jun 2025 #17
Thank you! Ocelot II Jun 2025 #25
If you want to get someone's attention tell them there's a spider on their neck. twodogsbarking Jun 2025 #18
Thanks! Ocelot II Jun 2025 #49
Wow! Well done! ❤️ littlemissmartypants Jun 2025 #19
Thanks! Ocelot II Jun 2025 #24
Collages are art. Figarosmom Jun 2025 #20
Thanks! The painting itself is in oil, and the spider has been varnished for shininess. Ocelot II Jun 2025 #23
Those purple Deadly Nightshade flowers! Wicked Blue Jun 2025 #22
Nightshade is a common weed around here. Ocelot II Jun 2025 #43
It is very cute! biophile Jun 2025 #32
Thanks. My friend is very cool with spiders. The yellow garden spider makes especially nice webs. Ocelot II Jun 2025 #44
I think it's pretty cool. Texin Jun 2025 #35
Thank you! Ocelot II Jun 2025 #45
I like it, looks seriously 1900 to 1930 retro. marble falls Jun 2025 #37
Thanks, I think the original rustic frame is probably that old. Ocelot II Jun 2025 #42
It's good. Sellable good. marble falls Jun 2025 #47
A nice way to honor Nature SheltieLover Jun 2025 #46
I came home from walks with pockets full of twigs, bark, spruce cones and basswood samaras. Ocelot II Jun 2025 #48
Lol. Artists call those types of things "found objects" SheltieLover Jun 2025 #51
That's awesome 👍👍 I love it 💙 you are very talented TommieMommy Jun 2025 #52
Thanks! Ocelot II Jun 2025 #59
Ahhh! Nice! Reminds me of the one garden spider that we had in the front yard, after stepping out the front door. SWBTATTReg Jun 2025 #53
Spiders are our friends, mostly. Ocelot II Jun 2025 #60
Weird but creative. 👍🏽 live love laugh Jun 2025 #54
Thanks. I think creative sometimes demands weird. Ocelot II Jun 2025 #63
I find it interesting SalvadorOcelot chouchou Jun 2025 #55
Thank you! Ocelot II Jun 2025 #64
Love it democrank Jun 2025 #56
Thank *you*! Ocelot II Jun 2025 #61
Are you open to suggestions? CANADIANBEAVER69 Jun 2025 #57
Actually, I thought of that but I don't have anything that would be small enough Ocelot II Jun 2025 #58
I mean it is a wonderful piece. I would love it if someone gave CANADIANBEAVER69 Jun 2025 #62
Thanks! I like the suggestion very much. Ocelot II Jun 2025 #65
Weird is good! bif Jun 2025 #68
all i can say is ,,, AllaN01Bear Jun 2025 #69

Ocelot II

(127,422 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
Jun 2025

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

nocoincidences

(2,425 posts)
50. Not surprising to me but I love spiders.
Tue Jun 24, 2025, 01:57 PM
Jun 2025

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

MIButterfly

(1,357 posts)
9. I like it. I hope your friend does too.
Tue Jun 24, 2025, 12:10 PM
Jun 2025

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

MIButterfly

(1,357 posts)
67. I first saw it on my phone and I liked it.
Tue Jun 24, 2025, 04:50 PM
Jun 2025

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

Ocelot II

(127,422 posts)
27. It's disproportionately large, though garden spiders are pretty big,
Tue Jun 24, 2025, 01:37 PM
Jun 2025

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

(41,988 posts)
16. Looks like you can be an artist if/when you ever lose your day job.
Tue Jun 24, 2025, 12:51 PM
Jun 2025

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

twodogsbarking

(15,975 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
Jun 2025

Very nice pic. Well done. An original.

Ocelot II

(127,422 posts)
49. Thanks!
Tue Jun 24, 2025, 01:56 PM
Jun 2025

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

(8,729 posts)
20. Collages are art.
Tue Jun 24, 2025, 01:27 PM
Jun 2025

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

(127,422 posts)
23. Thanks! The painting itself is in oil, and the spider has been varnished for shininess.
Tue Jun 24, 2025, 01:34 PM
Jun 2025

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

biophile

(918 posts)
32. It is very cute!
Tue Jun 24, 2025, 01:39 PM
Jun 2025

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

(127,422 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
Jun 2025

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

Ocelot II

(127,422 posts)
42. Thanks, I think the original rustic frame is probably that old.
Tue Jun 24, 2025, 01:44 PM
Jun 2025

At least the '30s if not before.

Ocelot II

(127,422 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
Jun 2025

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

SheltieLover

(73,895 posts)
51. Lol. Artists call those types of things "found objects"
Tue Jun 24, 2025, 01:59 PM
Jun 2025

Some of the best stuff to work with!

SWBTATTReg

(25,714 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
Jun 2025

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

(127,422 posts)
60. Spiders are our friends, mostly.
Tue Jun 24, 2025, 02:42 PM
Jun 2025

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

CANADIANBEAVER69

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

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

(127,422 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
Jun 2025

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

Ocelot II

(127,422 posts)
65. Thanks! I like the suggestion very much.
Tue Jun 24, 2025, 02:46 PM
Jun 2025

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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