Illumination:
1. the decorating of a manuscript using bright colors and gold leaf
2. the act of making or becoming clear in the mind.
Boxed Set of 8 Greeting Cards $30 USD
“There is grandeur in this view of life”
Original calligraphic design by Kelly Houle
Full quote by Darwin printed on reverse
“There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed into a few forms or into one; and that, whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved.”
—Charles Darwin, On the Origin of Species, 1859
Poem of the Gifts, Miniature Book $100 USD


Copyright Kelly M. Houle, 2011
All Rights Reserved
Boxed set includes:
* 8 blank greeting cards
(6.25in X 6.25in)
* 8 white envelopes
(6.5in X 6.5in)
* 8 gold foil seals

Kelly M. Houle, Artist and Bookmaker, kelly@illuminatedorigin.com
Leptinotarsa lineolata
Photuris lucicrescens “Firefly”
Phanaeus vindex “Rainbow Scarab”
Chrysochroa buqueti
Chrysina gloriosa
“Glorious Scarab”
Framed Miniature Illuminated Beetle Print $75 USD
*High-quality 3”x5” giclée print
*Signed and numbered
*Limited edition (50 prints)
*Hand-embellished with iridescent watercolors and 23-karat gold
*Framed in 5”x7” shadow box as shown above
Suggest a beetle for me to include on the table of contents pages of
The Illuminated Origin of Species and receive
an ORIGINAL, signed, hand-illuminated 8x10 watercolor painting
of the beetle you choose. Your contribution will be acknowledged
in a special section of the illuminated manuscript.
Adopt-A-Beetle! $250 USD
Illuminated Hummingbird Print
Allen's Hummingbird Family
Kelly M. Houle, 2009
Hummingbirds are printed life size
*High-Quality 6” x 8” Giclée Print
*Hand-Painted iridescent Details
*Signed and Numbered
*Limited Edition of 25 Copies
*Matted and Framed to 8” x10”
(frames vary)
Chalcosoma
mollenkampi*





A Miniature Book of Illuminated Beetles
Illustrations by Kelly Houle
Signed, Limited Edition
Second Printing, 30 copies
Book size: 2 11/16" x 2 1/16"
Box size: 2 13/16" x 2 1/16"
This accordion-fold book features reproductions of eight original watercolor paintings of beetles with their scientific names. The boards and slipcase are decorated with black and gold filigree and crushed velvet paper in "1898 beetle black" with gold leaf beetles on the cover and spine.
The illustrations were giclée printed on watercolor paper, then hand-embellished with iridescent watercolors and 23.5 karat gold, so that when viewed under direct light they shimmer and shine like real beetles.
A Miniature Book of Illuminated Beetles $250 USD
OUT OF PRINT
Frontispiece and Title Page Prints $300 USD each or $500/pair
Signed, Numbered
Limited Edition Giclée Prints
with Foil Stamping and hand-applied iridescent watercolors
30 copies each
22” x 30”
SHIPS IMMEDIATELY
Frontispiece
$300 USD + shipping
Title Page
$300 USD + shipping
Set of Two Prints
$500 USD + shipping
Dynastes hercules*
Adopted!