I’m certainly no advocate of frenzied violence, but somehow I’ve always liked the word Berserk, so when Anu suggested it I was eager to give it a go.

My hand does most of the thinking when I’m sketching, and in this case it took over completely. Though the Berserkir of Norse legend were human warriors dressed as bears, my hand decided that an armed orm made for a better “B.” Then the weapon that began as a battle-axe somehow morphed into a fly-swatter, which made me laugh.

Soon I had our orm surrounded by a swarm of insects, but then I realized it would be even funnier if he were facing a single tiny foe. (A very rare instance of Leah minimalism– though the horror vacui caused by the disappearing swarm was partially allayed by a rather elaborate & calligraphic flight-path.)

Back to my maximalist ways, & remembering a dazzling exhibit of military metalwork I saw many years ago, I gave our orm a horned helmet emblazoned with a filigree fly, & the motto “7 in 1” as a nod to The Brave Little Tailor, Grimm’s famed insect warrior.

This painting & prints can be found in my Etsy shop, Curious Art Lab.