The Champion Moth

Artist: theyellowfury
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Card: US$4.28
Print: from US$18.38

The Champion Moth

The Champion Moth is actually a butterfly. It’s a common misconception even among lepidopterists who can often be found lepidopting away in ignorance of this very pertinent fact.

I started with the idea of opaque butterfly wings. Then I saw a pattern emerging in my work, a bad thing. And I should where it’s convenient always take things one step further with every project, so I had a vacancy for something new. It was then a case of figuring out what is the opposite of what one would expect.

I was reading about how sparkplugs work and it was interesting stuff. Why they are the shape they are etc. Very interesting to me anyway. And butterflies could be shaped like sparkplugs with wings, that was credible enough for me.

Then there was some minor photoshopping just to bring out the colours that were in the scan already. I don’t know how they get in there but I’m happy enough to use them because they’re an analog effect.

I’d like to thank my always-obliging hacksaw blade who did a fantastic job teaming up with a piece of string to make a curved ruler sort of thing.

_{When I was coming to the end of the drawing phase I was reminded of one of my favourite quotes from The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy by Douglas Adams:
It was a large mattress, and probably one of quite high quality. Very few things actually get manufactured these days, because in an infinitely large Universe such as, for instance, the one in which we live, most things one could possibly imagine, and a lot of things one would rather not, grow somewhere. A forest was discovered recently in which most of the trees grew ratchet screwdrivers as fruit. The life cycle of ratchet screwdriver fruit it quite interesting. Once picked it needs a dark dusty drawer in which it can lie undisturbed for years. Then one night it suddenly hatches, discards its outer skin which crumbles into dust, and emerges as a totally unidentifiable little metal object with flanges at both ends and a sort of ridge and a sort of hole for a screw. This, when found, will get thrown away. No one knows what it is supposed to gain from this. Nature, in her infinite wisdom, is presumably working on it.
No one really knows what mattresses are meant to gain from their lives either. They are large, friendly, pocket-sprung creatures which live quiet private lives in the marshes of Squornshellous Zeta. Many of them get caught, slaughtered, dried out, shipped out and slept on. None of them seem to mind and all of them are called Zem.}

Bearpaw (a very nice person) wrote this incredible bit about it.
The moth/butterfly represents evolving, the spark plug represents not letting the spark within die, the flower represents a persons’ sense of fragility/purity.
Thanks Bearpaw.

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The Champion Moth belongs to the following groups:

***♂♥♥QUORN♥♥♀, Core [C.O.R.E] and Pencil Drawing (2 per 24 hrs) Available for sale as

Greeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints, Framed Prints and Posters

S.I. Sheehan

Love your writing, Simon….. The image is stunning, brilliantly conceived….. ~S
theyellowfury replied

Thanks. I just wanted to do something different.
deliriousgirl

JFC! This is just totally stunning!!! And ya know I just love that story of the works story, it’s just the best!!!
theyellowfury replied

Thanks Jen. It was a pain at the start but like most of them at some point there’s just darkening left to do. The back of it is broken and I can have a bit of fun. Then comes the final scrutineering and its off up to the internet.
bearpaw

very imaginative unique and brilliantly done. Love it, your description & the quote from the Hitchhikers’ guide to the galaxy. you’re awesome.
theyellowfury replied

Thank you very much. I hope you enjoy yourself here on RB.
Mishaal Sardar

Awesome work Theyellowfury!
its imaginative
marvellous
very unique
well done!
theyellowfury replied

Thanks Mishaal. Unique’s always a good idea.
margpie

S, you are so good at these design’s a bit of a closet surrealist arnt you, love the idea and the design of this, I was sketching the other day, spent ages on it, and ruined it when it came to the inking part, I might see if the computer can do a bit of a better job with the darkening part, as you get such a good result, as usual another inspirational piece :)
theyellowfury replied

Surrealism? I wouldn’t be part of any movement that’d have me.
Thanks.
JenniferB

Only a madman or a genius could make a connection between sparkplugs and butterflies… I’m not sure which, but they say that the line is a fine one… An incredibly creative work of Art. ;)
~~psst… we wont even mention the other thing…!!!~~ :-O
theyellowfury replied

It is no I who am mad.

It is I who am insane.
RebeccaT

The wings are truly amazing! – wish I had that kind of patience with a pencil. Gotta get myself one of those hacksaws…they seem to come in handy quite a bit :)
theyellowfury replied

Thanks Rebecca. Cds are a lifesaver too.
GittiArt

Unique and amazing work …bravo !!!
theyellowfury replied

Thank you.
sibergoth

i had one of these yokes in my garden the other day, sniffing the petrol tree!
had to swat it…. could have been explosive!

epic stuff Si as usual :)
some wee marks down on the left side there…

your clearly wasted as a hose pipe inspector at your day job!!
theyellowfury replied

Good man yourself. Are you putting any photos up?
I’ll wee mark you.
sibergoth

no my photos all stink .. i need to make new uns first… :(
Ushna Sardar

awesome S!!!!!!! you are amazing!!!!!! huggles
theyellowfury replied

Thanks Ushna. I’m just waiting for another idea to hit me and I can try to top it.
Ushna Sardar

hope it comes soon S! loved your art! I’m looking forward to more work from you .. also collab with you!!!!! your welcome my friend!
huggles
Robert O'Neill

Excellent work, Yellow. Yes, you often see these babies hovering around car engines—their natural habitat. Nice of you to draw one for us all to enjoy.
theyellowfury replied

Thanks dude.
amarica

Beautiful work of art Simon
theyellowfury replied

Thank you.
screamqueen

great work!
theyellowfury replied

Thank you Shannon.
mstrace

sui generis, is Simons work!! I apologize, along with pumpkins, writing, American baseball, purple and skulls – I am also a bit obsessed with Latin.

And did you know the meaning of life is the number 42? I am here for you, to make sure you are made aware of these very important facts.

_{p.s. seriously, this champion moth really is truly resplendent}
theyellowfury replied

Hey thank you you lovely woman, fkn hell those are lovely things to say about someone’s work. I’m very pleased with this fella. I had him half done and nearly didn’t finish but during my week off work I really had time to relax and slip into it.
_{I hurt my knee}
I know about 42 all too well.
I even came across the two sequel/epilogues on my travels round the net where Arthur Dent gets a job as a sandwich maker on a planet that worships a god called Bob. He meets his daughter for the first time too. It’s not too bad.
It’s not as bad as the ass-remake they ass-made of it a few years ago.
Sui generis rules. I had to look it up btw.
I’d love to know some more latin but then I’d love to know more everything. It is pretty fundamentally cool though to have latin about you.
Thanks for all your comments.
X$¥
Antanas

beautiful work
theyellowfury replied

Thank you. Antanas. This is the one for me to beat right now.
shanmclean

gorgeous image! just beautiful
theyellowfury replied

Thank you. This is my one to beat.
aglaia b

oh man, you are one trippy dude!
how ace is this and i might add it’s very you!
love all the detailing and that spark plug body.
the description, as always, very entertaining too.
tis one champion moth for sure. ;-) xox
theyellowfury replied

Thanks Aglaia. Champion refers to Champion sparkplugs, there’s a champion logo in nearly every old garage somewhere.
aglaia b

of course i knew that! LOL
Sensiworld

Great work !
Like the sparkplug…tee hee
theyellowfury replied

Thank you. I hadn’t planned the body but started the wings anyway. The sparkplug idea came to me along the way. “What shouldn’t go in there?”
Yknow?
Sensiworld

Yep…fully understand !! Very original !
blamo

love the concept design words …............. everything about it Unique thinking ARt …........
theyellowfury replied

Thank you, that’s a whopping comment.
Thank you
reflector

A great concept and a stunning, masterful drawing !
theyellowfury replied

I’m very proud of it myself. Thank you, you’re an excellent commenter.
ellena

I love the concept and the transparency of his wings. I always thought the same way…butterfly means fragility…in my mind I keep seeing his wings beatting fast like eye lashes..
theyellowfury replied

Thanks Ellena. This is my one to top now. I was ecstatic with it.
mealiex

Sweeeeet.!! Love it :O)
theyellowfury replied

Thank you. I’m dead happy with it.
FAIRIEWOMAN1

I like the contrast -soft feathery wings and sturdy, dense metal. Both have the spark of life, but in such different forms! Youve got such a delicate touch and sure hand, with the imagination to ignite them.
theyellowfury replied

Thank you Helena. I love all your stuff too.
LostGod

i don`t know how i missed this man…way cool.
theyellowfury replied

Thanks like-mind.
mateusz

brilliantly work…
theyellowfury replied

Thanks man
Ushna Sardar

Congratulations
Ushna.
theyellowfury replied

Thanks Ushna. You’re a great host.
Ushna Sardar

so r u Simon! :)
thanks_!~
KEITH R. WILL...

nicely done champion indeed
theyellowfury replied

Ta, NGK doesn’t have the same ring
Don Bailey

‘nuther nice piece! Funny too! :)

db
~
theyellowfury replied

Thanks, I like to have a bit of everything.
mrana

Now, this is Very Cool. Brilliant.
theyellowfury replied

Thank you, I have a similar one in the works right now.
CanDuCreations

Beautiful and very well designed work
theyellowfury replied

Thank you.
linaji

I AM SO GLAD I THOUGHT OF YOU TODAY.. this is brilliant work.. your mind is amazing and FUN.. WITH EMPHASIS ON THE FUN!!
theyellowfury replied

Thanks Lina. This drawing is what happens hen I get a week away from that awful job of mine and instead of going anywhere just sit on my ass.
linaji

WE HAVE GOT TO GET YOU ANOTHER JOB!!! XOXOXO
theyellowfury replied

I forgot a w above. Yeah me too. A sitting on his ass product tester. Someone who evaluates the end-user experience. _hahahahahaha
ShadowDancer

wow, the sheerness on the wings is incredible, loved the spark plug idea and the writing that supported it.
theyellowfury replied

Thank you, nice comment.
Elucidate

This is amazingly, brilliantly, awesomely cool. Incredible art and creative concept.
theyellowfury replied

Awww shucks, thanks.
JimmyJack

What an awesome idea.
theyellowfury replied

Hey thanks. Good to meet you.
Stacey Foster

Thanks for favouriting my work!
This is beautiful!
theyellowfury replied

You’re welcome and thanks.
klavaza

Work Extraordinaire! Congrats both on the image and the creative text!
theyellowfury replied

Thank you very much
Mui-Ling Teh

Very incredible and delicate pencil work for a very creative image. Both the art and the idea is great!
theyellowfury replied

Thank you very much Mui-Ling. I love your work too.
Sharon Mau

“Ratchet screwdrivers as fruit… LOL!!” You have a brilliant mind, I very much enjoy reading your wonderful commentary and the image is brilliant!
theyellowfury replied

Ah wow thanks.
mistertrooth

great image – i have a thing about moth, butterfly and insect wings, too …. fave.
theyellowfury replied

Thanks dood. They’re fascinating things alright.
Debbie Meyers

Yoou are very talented. This is surprising, unique and awesome!!!
theyellowfury replied

Thanks very much Debs.
DreaM

oh fabulous!!!!
theyellowfury replied

Thanks :)
Zefira

wicked!
theyellowfury replied

Thank you very much. I love that word
sythere

great work man ,, and outstanding idea :)
theyellowfury replied

Thanks dude. I think we might have the same first name. Beards are great aren’t they?