Art: New Jersey State Symbols

Honeybee

(2025)

Watercolor, Gouache

Bredlow portrays New Jersey’s state insect the honeybee, in the midst of pollinating a flower. Pollen clings as it works, and we can see the fuzz on its yellow striped body. The delicate transparency of the wings at rest and light reflecting off the bee add visual interest.

The honeybee was selected as our state insect in 1974, thanks to a group of 5th grade students. Honeybees are essential pollinators for many of New Jersey’s major crops, including blueberries, cranberries, cucumbers, squash, and apples.

Milan

(2018)

Scratchboard

Milan was a stallion belonging to a friend of the artist. He is a fine example of our state animal, the horse. Bredlow crafted this piece using scratchboard, a clay board coated with india ink. The artist scratches away the ink to make the image using an X-acto blade.

In 1977, the horse was chosen as New Jersey’s state animal. Historically, horses have been important to New Jersey both in agriculture and transportation. New Jersey’s state seal is crowned by a horse’s head, representing strength, speed and independence.

Seeing Eye Dog

(2026)

Colored Pencil, Acrylic, Photoshop

The Seeing Eye Dog sits, looking up waiting to be of assistance. Bredlow captures the texture of her shaggy fur and her patient and attentive demeanor. The darker square around the dog’s head and neck is a fantastic way to emphasize the importance of her work. She uses her intelligence, sense of smell, hearing, and sight to guide her person. The two shining diamonds symbolize her partnership with her handler.

In 2020 the Seeing Eye Dog became New Jersey’s State Dog. The Seeing Eye Inc. (founded 1929) moved to Morristown, NJ in 1931 where it remains headquartered. This company set the standard for training guide dogs globally. Thanks to The Seeing Eye, over 17,000 dogs have been trained to assist people in the U.S. and Canada.

The New Jersey State Library feels strongly connected to this State Symbol. The Talking Book and Braille Center is a division of the State Library and provides reading material for New Jersey residents who can’t use traditional print media. Marya Hunsicker, a former director, raised Seeing Eye puppies and even brought them to work!

Goldfinch

(2025)

Watercolor, Gouache

The goldfinch looks as though he is ready to take off from his perch, as his one foot is not gripping the branch. He stares off in the distance and allows the audience to admire his bright plumage.

The Eastern Goldfinch was almost not selected as our state bird. In 1935, Senator Dryden Kuser’s bill proposing the goldfinch as our state bird failed by 4 votes. Later than same year, the bill passed unanimously. Although brightly colored, you may still have trouble spotting a goldfinch due to its small size. However, New Jersey bird lovers can attract them by offering sunflower seeds in their bird feeders!

Ernst

(2026)

Ballpoint pen, Colored pencil, Gouache

New Jersey’s State Reptile is the bog turtle, a highly endangered species. Bredlow drew Ernst the bog turtle freehand on tracing paper, using a photo from New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection as a model. She then transferred it to the map of Warren County. Ernst appears to be looking up at the Goldfinch. Maybe that’s why he’s about to fly away?

Bredlow says, “Warren County was chosen because it is a bog turtle habitat. Bog turtles like marshy, boggy areas, often living at the edge of the woods. The largest they grow is 4 inches. I named him Ernst after Gotthilf Heinrich Ernst Muhlenberg, a clergyman who discovered the species in 1775. In 1801 they were named for Muhlenberg and in 1956 they were renamed the ‘bog turtle’.”

Black Swallowtail on Dill

(2026)

Tea-stained watercolor paper, Ink pen, Watercolor, Gouache

In 2015, Jeannie Geremia drafted legislation, gathered petitions, and lobbied Legislators to make the Black Swallowtail New Jersey’s State butterfly. The black swallowtail was chosen for its year-round presence across all 21 counties of New Jersey and its ease of attraction to common garden herbs like parsley, dill, and fennel.

The dill plant almost appears to be glowing against the tea stained paper. Maybe this is what attracts the butterfly? Bredlow shows extraordinary detail in the black swallowtail’s wings with delicate lines. She also makes them appear semi-transparent, like the viewer can see through the front wings to the back.

Blueberries

(2026)

Colored pencil, Gouache

Bredlow was inspired by her own blueberry bushes to create this piece. The texture of the leaves, the ripe and unripe berries, and the arrangement in space create an idea of fading backwards into the depth of the bush.

Highbush blueberries, first successfully grown in New Jersey in 1916, did not become our state fruit until 2004! Developed from wild blueberries into a domestic crop, this plant was created by Elizabeth Coleman White and Frederick Coleville in Whitesbog, NJ.