Monarch Baby

Two weeks ago, while watering a geranium on our front porch, I noticed a monarch caterpillar hanging from it in the shape of a "J". Of course I yelled for everyone in the family to come and see and the very next morning it was a chrysalis. Such a perfect thing for a five and eight year old boy to be able to observe nature so closely. They diligently checked it a few times a day, and one morning we noticed that the chrysalis was transparent. The boys had school, so I set up my camera for them on time lapse to capture the monarch emerging. Quite a beautiful thing, the entire experience.

6x6 on 1/8" museum quality panel

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Monarch on Zinnia

I remember when I was younger there were monarchs everywhere. It seems they've had a hard time the past few years. Hopefully soon they will be crowding my zinnias like they did a few years ago--every flower with its own butterfly.

6x6 on 1/8" museum quality panel

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Black Swallowtail 2

I painted this photo in January using watercolors here, and wanted to see if I could accomplish any of the same things with oils and my palette knives. Not sure I could. In the photo there is more variation in the green behind the butterfly and flower. I did some underpainting, and let it peek through a bit. When I try to get a few different greens going, no matter how close they are, it starts to look like sponge painting--that is not the look I'm into. Instead I kept the background thin and layered the paint more thickly in the flower and butterfly.

6x8 Oil Palette Knife Painting

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A Black Swallowtail

I took this photograph years ago and have always wanted to paint it. With watercolors I can just grab my little papers, pen, and travel paints and do it. The process for what I'm doing is just so much more convenient, especially with two boys underfoot. I mix as I go instead of mixing out the whole palette as I do with my oils. Hmmm. Maybe I will give this a try with oils--risky!

4x6 watercolor on paper

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