Like the first page of insect drawings these drawings are the result of many years work trying to
figure out what insects were in Ken's garden. As he became more interested in them he went from a small
$10 pocket microscope to a much more expensive dissecting microscope. He also started collecting insects
wherever he found them.
It's difficult to explain the motivation. It was also difficult when doing this work to reconcile it
with the seemingly far more ambitious large abstract paintings that Ken had done previously. In retrospect all
Ken can say it that this type of work seemed more honest than much of what he saw being shown and praised
in galleries, particularly 'important' art. To some extent it was a quiet revolt against it.
Part of it also was strictly educational/scientific: drawing the insects in enough detail that he could
then look at a guidebook and put a name to them. At the same time there was the simple
desire to put down on paper exactly what he saw, one of the most basic goals of much European art. As he
wrote recently in his blog, drawing, especially in the sense
of carving three-dimensional illusion out of the flat space of paper or canvas, is a common theme in both
his abstract and representational art. Also, as he drew them he also began to realize that insects offered
a wealth of shapes and juxtaposition of shapes. So what began as a very realistic endeavor eventually
took on some abstract qualities.
'Shining Leaf Beetle', 10x13, pen and ink.
'Ground Beetle', 10x13, pen and ink.
'Fruit Fly', 10x13, pen and ink.
'Ensign Wasp', 10x13, pen and ink.
'Seed Bug', 10x13, pen and ink.
'Squash Vine Borer', 10x13, pen and ink.