Butterfly Paintings: Zodiac Moth
Thursday, November 1st, 2007
Looking good! I added the antenna, the final layers of burnt sienna to the dark area in the wings, filled in the blue/gray “wing drops” at the bottom, and gave a final layer to the background to this commissioned butterfly painting.
Here is a bit of background information on this “butterfly”. It is actually inspired by the Zodiac Moth, the only member of this genus of eleven day-flying species to occur in Australia. The wings are black with coppery green tones and purplish pink iridescent bands. I actually skipped the layers of green and alternated with layers of sienna to create a warmer look. The Zodiac is native to Papua New Guinea and northeastern Australia, but she is will be migrating to Michigan this year!
I know it is the beginning of November and I am painting a butterfly; that is fine with me. I know the butterflies are on their merry way to Mexico or some other warm place. They have the ability to live carefree and take off for the season. Unless they are a little confused with the fact that it was eighty degrees in Pittsburgh in October, maybe some decided to stay. I doubt it though. Anyway, here in Zapata Studios, I have been working on this painting for a wonderful woman in the Detroit area. Apparently, her wedding theme was butterflies. She saw my butterfly series on the web and picked up the phone to give me a call to ask if she could have one done for her house. Would I to deny such a flattering request? Never! Plus, as the days turn gray, its totally energizing to look at such a colorful piece.
Creating a positive energy through visual means was the intention of my original butterfly series. Each piece was painted with the intention to uplift, inspire, and to bring positive energy to the atmosphere of the room in which it would be displayed. So far they work wonderfully. I do have to admit, they are not all butterflies. Some are moths. I’ll get more into that later. I have work to do!
