GEORGE

My daughter, whom I think is brilliant, painted this at age 8.  She conceptualized “George” as a small mammal with wings, sharp vampire-like teeth, and a long tongue to grab insects.  If we break George down we will note that he is eating a beetle.  Beetles are insects with thick, leathery, front wings that meet evenly down the middle of the back.  Beetles, like all insects, have 3 pairs of legs (total of 6).  I would conclude that the beetle being eaten here is likely tropical based on the brilliant blue color.  We do, however, have some lovely specimens in the Ozarks.  George is evidently a mutant.  George has beautiful blue eyes.  Most wild animals have brown eyes, colored by the presence of the brown pigment melanin.  Melanin is also what produces darker skin tones and hair.  The absence of melanin in the eyes is caused by a mutated gene that allows other genes to be expressed, including the color blue.  George is graced with wings.  His wings are blue on the underside and yellow on the top.  The different coloration of the wings is beneficial.  When he is flying and seen from below, his wings look like the blue sky, allowing him to be less conspicuous to predators.  Some fish benefit from the same color phenomena and we should totally chat that up later!  The flash of yellow, when the wings are open will allow George to confuse predators.  Bright colors such as yellow, can serve as warnings to predators that George might taste bad, so you shouldn’t bother to nibble him.  All in all, this piece of art makes me very happy.  I hope it makes you smile and brings a little biology to your day.