Author: Alyssa Smith

August Update

About a month ago, I found an Arizona bark scorpion that was deceased in our pond. I skimmed the water and fished it out. I then preserved the scorpion and have been holding onto it for the right time.

In this piece, I got the opportunity to display the scorpion. This display features a fox skull, dried mushrooms, foxtails, baby’s breath, and moss, atop a vintage lamp base. I purchased two lots of vintage lamp bases from a seller on eBay almost a year ago. They arrived not long before we moved from California to Arizona, so they got left in the box and hadn’t been opened. I finally had the time to sit down and sort through them recently and picked a beautiful gold base to create this piece.

You can watch more videos of my work on Tiktok @alyssavargas

Latest Piece

This weekend, I worked on a new piece. For the frame, I repurposed a clock. I often use clocks for my pieces. I love working with them and all of the different designs that make for some beautiful, lightweight displays.

The featured specimen in this piece is a Chrysiridia rhipheus. This is my first time working with this species of moth, and I was in awe of its spectacular colors when I pinned it.

Here is an excerpt from Bug Under Glass with some interesting facts about the Madagascar sunset moth:

• Sunset moths were originally believed to originate from China
• Sunset moth populations go through cycles of explosive growth and decline as the seeds of their host plant become more toxic due to selection pressures from feeding, then revert as moth populations fall.
• The sunset moth is one of the most sought-after Lepidoptera from insect collectors. Jewelers in the Victorian period would make pieces out of their wings.
• The indigenous Malagasy people of Madagascar call the sunset moth “adriandolo” which roughly translates to “noble spirit” or “king spirit.”

You can view more videos of my work on my Tiktok @alyssavargas.

Cicada Season

A look inside my finished cicada cloche.

It’s cicada season here in Tucson! This means the trees are buzzing, and I’m on the hunt for deceased specimens and shells to turn into art!

I found the specimen above at my work last week. I also found 3 cicada shells on mesquite trees, which they seem to love singing their songs from.

One of 3 cicada shells featured in this piece.

This piece has just been added to my Portfolio page and is for sale. I am only selling locally at this time in Tucson, AZ. You can inquire about purchasing this piece by using this Contact Form.

You can find more videos of my art on Tiktok @alyssavargas.