Butterfly Wings

*Detail From Passion Butterly Tango for Artist’s Journal June 2022*

Such Beautiful Things

Among my new oil paintings this summer, Passion Butterfly Tango, which showcases the fleeting beauty of one of the South’s long-winged and most graceful butterflies. Known as, Gulf Fritillary, and more commonly, passion butterfly, the distinguishing markings that set this bright orange beauty apart are three silver white spots located on each forewing.

I happened to encounter my passion butterfly flitting about town and landing on a blooming butterfly bush while enjoying the warmth of the summer sun. The surrounding lush greenery of the garden and brilliantly blue Georgia sky matched this wonderfully colorful visitor who appeared to say hello just to me. I wondered, could I get close enough to snap pictures without disturbing my new garden friend?

Snap, snap, snap went my camera shutter, and flit, flit, flit went my graceful winged visitor, floating on the air currents from flower to flower. For some ten minutes we danced, he intent on his nectar and me intent on enjoying what would be an all too brief encounter. My passion butterfly excited me! Thrilled to have captured him for all time, and feeling wistful about his departure… I took my precious photographs home to my studio and relived his wonderful dance with me. Clearly, we had shared the tango! Our moments in the summer sun together were a dance of passion, a dance of love … for all the sweet scented and warmly pulsating beauty that a summer garden offers us all!

As I finish up the final details on Passion Butterfly Tango, oil on canvas, 12 inches x 16 inches, my heart feels full. I study this butterfly’s beautiful markings and with each brush stroke, I relive our moments together. I am reminded about how fleeting and precious life is. A chance encounter on a summer day… a flower, a butterfly, a painting.

Through these moments, I celebrate the incredible beauty in life.

Thank you for visiting with me in my Artist’s Journal On The Easel. I am truly happy to share this treasured butterfly encounter with you!

Passion Butterfly Tango is one canvas in a series of oil paintings I have titled Summer Garden 2022. Watch for more butterfly stories and butterfly paintings to come! June 2022 is being a very productive month in my art studio! (Article Image: detail from Passion Butterfly Tango, oil on canvas, 12 inches by 16 inches.