Artwork copyright Donna Mossholder. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission.

Bees Leaving the Hive, 1985

Donna Mossholder
American (born 1946)

Location: Riverside Elementary, Chattaroy

About the Artwork

Bees Leaving the Hive is a watercolor painting by artist Donna Mossholder. She created rich opaque colors by mixing white tempera paint with the watercolors. She then used a sponge to remove excess paint and to give the scene dimension. This piece continues her exploration of the theme of a bear stealing honey. She notes, "This theme has reappeared in several forms sometimes with a bear, a tree, and a nude female figure, as a kind of comic version of a classical approach. Later on this idea manifested itself as a sort of parable entitled "If a bear steals honey he is bound to get caught."

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Riverside School District.

About the Artist

Artist Donna Mossholder creates narrative-driven paintings and prints that draw from the experiences of everyday life. She lives and works in the San Francisco Bay Area, in California. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in painting and a Master of Fine Arts degree in printmaking from the California College of Arts and Crafts.