Lena Krempich Beetle Art
If you suffer from Entomophobia (i.e. a specific phobia characterized by an excessive or unrealistic fear of one or more classes of insect) then today’s post may not be for you. Because today I’m looking at the beautiful work of Russian Embroidery Artist Lena Krempich and it’s all about bugs!
With a little help from Googles skill at translating Russian to English, I sent some questions to Lena and she sent some replies and here we are with a short interview. Isn’t technology great when it works lol
Hi Lena, thanks for agreeing to take part on Fishinkblog today.
Where did you first study your art ?
Hi Craig, It’s a pleasure for me to show my work to your readers, however I didn’t study anywhere, I taught myself everything. I’ve had a needle in my hands since I was 5 years old. Thank you to my mum for not being afraid to give a small child a needle !
How long have you been making insects and what got you interested in them to begin with ?
I made the first beetle about six years ago, it is still kept by me. Of course, it is very different from those bugs I am making now. Insects have attracted me since childhood. I read a lot about them. I could sit in the grass for hours and watch them. Unfortunately, I was not allowed to bring them home.
I also loved sewing and embroidering. So my two hobbies grew into one – textile sculptures of insects with embroidery. A perfect fit.
Roughly how long does it take you to make one Beetle ?
The creation of one beetle takes an average of about three full days.
Have you ever had someone be frightened when you wear them on your clothes ?
Personally I am not afraid even of living beetles, so of course I’m not afraid to wear them myself. But there were cases when passersby noticed a beetle on me and shuddered. Then, realizing that it was not real or alive, they sighed with relief.
I assume you know the work of Mr Finch ?
Oh, of course I am familiar with the work of Mr. Finch, they are amazing! I follow his creations.
Which artists inspire you today ?
I like and follow the work of these people on Instagram
Polalab Beskonechnayaistoriya Peresvetti Cedricmarcillac Disfairy.ilaria Kuroda_yoshie Mosmeatextileart Lemonpepperstudio
How wonderful to see the many stages that go into the creation of one of your fabric beetles. Your photography really helps to show them off clearly.
Many thanks Lena for showing the Fishinkblog readers your intricate and stunning work.
If you’re feeling the insect love and would like a tame one for yourself, head over to Lena’s Etsy shop here.
fishinkblog.com 
Beautiful!
Thank you
Like all the best artists, Lena notices the little things. Thanks for showcasing her fab work, Craig.
Here in Australia, we have dazzling beetles and bright green cicadas that are speckled with shiny gold dots on their heads – amazing!
We have iridescent Christmas beetles here – a glorious metallic green sheen on them. They drop down from the gum trees just before Xmas – thousands of them! I remember as a kid being told by my gran, that these beetles were Santa’s spies, checking up to see if we’d been naughty or nice before the big day!
Aww thanks Deidre what a fab memory, of course I imagine you were always nice just before Christmas with all those irridescent spies around lol.
They are beautiful, beautiful work and colors. However… real bugs, YUCK!! Especially when they get smashed and the yellow guts are stuck on the floor or wall. I have to stop thinking about this now. 😦 My worst memory of a bug was stepping barefoot on one in my bedroom and my mom wouldn’t clean it off my foot, I had to!
Bugs are not a friend of mine either. I would gladly scoop anything into a glass and transport it outside rather than squash it, but to step on one is pretty awful too. A memory that’s stayed with you a while says it all.
your art work is amazing i wish i could do what u can do i am trying to do it but it is just not working