My studio has always been cluttered with small boxes that are crowded with insects, butterflies, leaves and flowers that I have found and keep near for inspiration. One day, while searching for a new project, I came across a monarch butterfly that I had discovered in a parking lot of all places. Sadly, there wasn't much left to this unfortunate fellow other than two small pieces of his wing, but they were enough to set behind a couple of watch crystals I had lying around. The resulting effect was astounding. Reducing this rather common object down to line, color, form and shape, abstracted its original form without changing a thing about its inherent structure or beauty.
In a way, this line of work honors the natural world. By using an insect with a relatively short life span in creating a lasting piece of artwork, I am contributing to the timelessness of the butterfly's innate beauty.
Nearly 100% of the butterflies used in these pieces were found either in the deserts of New Mexico, the green hills of Vermont or the Adirondack Mountains where I have spent time hiking, camping, or as the case may be, walking through a parking lot. The remainder are from a butterfly conservatory where they are collected when they naturally expire. My first choice is to use those found in their natural habitat as it lends a great deal more to the inspiration of the piece.
My studio has always been cluttered with small boxes that are crowded with insects, butterflies, leaves and flowers that I have found and keep near for inspiration. One day, while searching for a new project, I came across a monarch butterfly that I had discovered in a parking lot of all places. Sadly, there wasn't much left to this unfortunate fellow other than two small pieces of his wing, but they were enough to set behind a couple of watch crystals I had lying around. The resulting effect was astounding. Reducing this rather common object down to line, color, form and shape, abstracted its original form without changing a thing about its inherent structure or beauty.