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Las Vegas-based artist Brian Swanson puts a humorous and fun twist on classical scientific illustration in his series “BugSpeak.” The exhibit features seven original, signed prints featuring his colorized pen-and-ink illustrations of native insects.
Tongue-in-cheek humor is apparent as scientific text is replaced with “bugspeak,” which collaborator Danae “D” Cummings helped create for each specimen based on its voice, behavior and physiology. Bees buzz, crickets chirp, scorpions tap and centipedes wiggle and squirm, creating unique, new alphabets.
A native of Southern California, Swanson is trained as a technical illustrator in the aerospace field. He is the principal of Cricket Studio in downtown Las Vegas’ Arts Factory (107 E. Charleston Blvd.).
Cummings is a biologist native to South Dakota. Her hobbies include animal behavior and the study of insects, which she draws upon to create these languages.
The Nature Exchange at the Las Vegas Springs Preserve is the perfect setting to showcase this artwork. “BugSpeak” evokes the fun, playful spirit that exists in the Nature Exchange for collecting, studying and trading of treasures from nature.
