Don't Mess With Fairies

One of the few privileges that comes with being an artist is eldritch types -- fairies, elves, sprites, and so forth -- will reveal themselves to you occasionally.

There are several fairies whose territories intersect in my back yard.  They are not the little sparkly fellows we find in picture books.  Real fairies are not to be trifled with.  They eat insects, small rodents, and birds.  They can cause plants to die and things to go wrong.  They are startlingly violent, greedy, and oversexed.  They can't be reasoned with, although they do find human activity endlessly interesting.

This is one of the fairies I see around my property sometimes.  I had to paint it from a photograph -- they do not sit still.  She's not offering me the insect: she's preparing to eat it.

*Note: Wings aren't shown because they lie along the back when not in use.