Two days ago I decided it was time to begin my new paintings.  They are miniatures, though, which I have never done.  So this first one took me a lot longer than I thought it would (5 hours!) What can I say?  I’m a perfectionist.  I bet no other artist out there can relate.  (Snicker, snicker, nudge, nudge!)

I tried to start the Melissa Blue butterfly painting first, but unfortunately, after a few minutes I just couldn’t get the color to come out like I wanted it to.  Plus it was drawn with both wings spread out like you would be looking at the top of it, and it was not drawn well.  So after struggling with it for way too long, the unfinished product found a new home – the trash.  Now I’ve decided to have my group of paintings be two pansies and one butterfly.  That’s fine with me.  Painting small details is tough for me; my eyes don’t have the best vision.  For small stuff I wear my reading glasses and sometimes have to use a magnifying glass.  I need to get one of those huge lighted magnifying glasses that could attach to my table!

Next I plan to attempt the Spicebush Swallowtail.  I have an actual dead model for this one.  My son found it one day on a walk, and brought it home to me. Just a side note for others who may not be that familiar with butterflies and where they live, the Spicebush Swallowtail is indigenous to the southern area of the United States.  It is the Mississippi State Butterfly.  That was interesting for me to learn.  I don’t know how this species of butterfly ended up in Northern California, but I am glad it did.

I have it drawn onto my canvas already which is just what I have to do at this stage in my development as an artist.  I used colored pencils.  Normally, I don’t draw from life or in this case “death”.  I either draw from imagination or use photos.  My daughter took some photos of a group of these Spicebush Swallowtails in the spring when all of our Lupine was bloomed in the front yard.  They are a sight to see when there is such a large bunch of them.

I found the photographer who took the picture of three pansies that my painting was derived from. Her name is Shukhshma Dangol.

Until next time have a blessed day, and give someone you love a BIG HUG!