New series for July!

A while back, the thought had crossed my mind to 'repeat' a series.  See, I did a series I called 'Shadows' back in August of 2012.   At the time I was still in my first year of making art every day, and I was still kinda sticking to the suggested prompts from the Creative Every Day site.  The prompt was 'shadows' and came across some amazing artists...got inspired...got distracted...and started focusing on 'winged things'...mostly butterflies.  I extended the theme to include dragonflies, bees and even some lady bugs.  

Here is a link to the series and some related info;
http://www.jenniferlovegironda.com/gallery1/augustmy-take-on-shadows

I enjoyed making those pieces so much, and I even sold many of them. And I am no stranger to butterflies.  I have used butterflies in my work off and on as a recurring theme since undergrad. 

(Left) Design for a stained glass competition. (Right) It won! Part of my prize was that the company actually created the piece in stained glass. This is at John and Jennifer German's house now, aka 'my NC private art gallery' ...My apologies for the blurry pics.

​In many cultures and beliefs butterflies are associated with souls, and I often think of those loved ones I miss when I see a butterfly, like that little glimpse of beauty is a reminder of that spirit that has passed.

Of course there is the transformation that the caterpillar goes through to become a butterfly.  I can identify with that, I think we all can- we all hope that we can emerge from our 'cocoon'... our problems...insecurities...heartaches...tragedies...that we can emerge and rise from it all- into something full of beauty, like a butterfly.  

Not only does the butterfly spread joy and beauty in a metaphoric sense- but it literally does, the beauty part at least. Fluttering from flower to flower, helping to pollinate, serving as food for other species, continuing the circle of life.  I want to be like a butterfly, helping the people around me to grow and to find beauty.

And of course there is the 'butterfly effect'- that idea that small things can impact things on a larger scale (literally put in the most simple form, there is a TON of reading on this, on chaos theory, science, philosophy...blew my mind!)  I liken it to the idea that small acts of kindness...or even the smallest acts of evil...impact us on a larger scale...which is why I do my #AngelDropArt.

Which reminds me, I need to get on making some angels, I have my work cut out for me, gotta put some light out there- lotta darkness lately.  I digress.

So...these are my (random/stream of consciousness) thoughts on butterflies.  I started my first piece last night working with graphitone and watercolor in a 5x7 format, drawing 'my girl' that I love to draw.  I may work larger later, I may switch materials...but for now, it's a start.  More to come!

Examples of butterflies in my work since 2012;