Nine Lovely Butterflies

(clockwise from top left)

1. Gulf Fritillary, Hanging On, 8" X 8," $100

2. Pink Cattleheart, Over the Andes, 5" X 7, " $75

3. Hecale Longwing, 11" X 14," $230

4. Orange Julias, Passion for Flowers, 11" X 14," $230

5. Dark Blue Tiger, 11" X 14," $230

6. Great Yellow Mormons, Sunset Ladies, 11" X 14," $230

Day #3 of 3: Pink Cattleheart

Over the Andes

5" X 7"

$85

Click here to Purchase

The Pink Cattleheart butterfly is a forest butterfly found in Central and South America from Mexico, through Costa Rica and Ecuador to Peru. Due to this location it is also called the Transandean Cattleheart.

Typically, the butterfly has five red patches on its hindwing. You can see that the one I photographed (below) only has four with a gap. I only found this out reading about the species, but I find it even more special now!

The caterpillars feed on pipevine, which makes them poisonous to predators.

This butterfly was at the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservancy. It is a lovely space, but my photos leave a lot to be desired. I think I need to take the "good camera" and return soon. Besides many lovely butterflies, there are (among other birds) adorable button quail, turacos, and a pair of flamingoes!

Here is the slideshow of the art in progress:

Day #2 of 3: Pink Cattleheart

I'm having a lot of fun with the leafy background. The butterfly has a long way to go at this point, but since he is mostly black, it should go quickly.

You may have guessed that this painting is smaller than the others I've done this month. Yes, this one is 5" X 7." I drew it to paint on my trip, but didn't. Rather than let it go to waste, I'm painting it now.

Day #1 of 3: Pink Cattleheart

It's day 24 in the 30 day Thirty in Thirty paint everyday challenge. I'm beginning watercolor number five. Although this is far less than the 24th painting I could have been doing today, I am glad I am participating and I am very pleased with what I've painted.

Come back tomorrow for the next work in progress painting.

For the Love of Fringe!

Pendant: Pink Flower With Fringe

$20 + tax and shipping

Pendant: Yellow Flower with Wishbone Fringe

$20 + tax and shipping

These painted shell tiles (1" square) were painted a while ago, but the metal squares that I was going to attach them to were missing something. I decided to hammer some wire into swinging metal tassel fringe. The pink one has seven pieces of straight fringe and the yellow one has three pieces of wishbone shaped fringe. I added a large bail at the top.

Each comes with an 18" silver-colored chain. I think they look fun and fresh!

In Maria's Garden

Pink Coneflowers

Watercolor

4" X 6"

SOLD

My friend Maria is a portrait painter. Early in the summer, my daughter sat for her as a model. I was mesmerized by her lovely flowers by the driveway. So, technically, I provided her inspiration for a painting and she provided mine!

Days 14 and 15 - Thirty Paintings in Thirty Days

Border Riot

4" X 6"

$40

Click here to purchase

So...tonight I am attempting to place catch up on the artwork front. While my teen daughter was in a voice lesson, I sketched the image above of zinnias from Photostream on my iPhone. Thank goodness for technology. It isn't my best work ever, but I got a new book on painting flowers in watercolor last weekend, so I wanted to do another flower painting. I didn't really follow any of what the book recommended except it talked about petals reflecting the sky, so I did add a little blue to some of the petals, which I really like. I was also a little more aware of the fact that flowers are three dimensional. I got a little bit bored with it at the end and started abstracting the background shapes, which I also like.

Yellow Belly

4" X 6"

$40

Click here to purchase

After I finished my flowers, I decided to finish one of my etched pieces. You would have to look REALLY closely at the turtle, but the line drawing he consists of is an etching on a piece of rice paper. I then gesso the back of the paper and watercolor the front. From there, I did things slightly differently than my normal mixed media process. I knew I wanted to include the turtle in some collage, but I feared that the watercolor would run when I applied matte medium, so for the first time, I sprayed the front of the turtle with varnish and let it dry before proceeding. I also applied him to a 300# scrap of watercolor paper instead of the printmaking paper that I normally use. (It was really wonderful to avoid the warping of paper!) I think he turned out well; I love lime green and bright blue together.

Day 9 - Thirty Paintings in Thirty Days

Single Bloom

4" X 6"

$40

Click here to Purchase

Today's painting is of a single rhododendron blossom. Yes, there were other flowers I could have also painted in the reference photo, but that is the great thing about being an artist; you can decide to paint things however you want! My painting contains a nod to cubism, which keeps me interested and gives me a few more shapes to work with to strengthen the composition.

I take a LOT of flower photos and struggle getting them on paper or canvas in a way that pleases my eye. I am pleased with this one. I think it would also make a good note card or Mother's Day card as well as a basis for some other projects I have bouncing around in my brain. Stay tuned!