This is a story of inspiration and evolution. The butterfly canvas art represents transformation and strength, symbolizing the fiery spirit within us all.
You will find a few technique teachings in this writing but more than anything it is the documented constant shifting and crooked journey to this finished piece of art.
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My Sources of Inspiration
By sharing this with you I hope to shed light on one of two things:
1.) If you are NOT a creator.......I hope this gives you a clear picture of how much time, thought, emotion and perseverance goes into a single piece of work.
2.) If you are a fellow creator......I hope you will find comfort in knowing that we ALL struggle at times to bring what is in our heart and soul....into the space that others can see it clearly.
Inspiration can be found everywhere and in this case, I found it over days and weeks as I continued to work on her.....
~a screenshot from a friend
~a video of another artist friend
~a neighborhood fire
~my guest room wallpaper
~words from my daughter
So with all those sources of inspiration, you can certainly see why my path was so crooked!
It was as if this lady on canvas was slowly finding her way as I was confronted by new sources of inspiration as the days went by.
Supplies Used: Butterfly Girl Canvas Art
Chalk Mineral Paint:
Acrylic Paints:
Liquitex Phythalocyanine Green
Liquietex Light Olive Green
Liquietex Cobalt Blue Hue
Liquietex Yellow Med
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How It All Began
It all began when a friend sent me a screenshot of a gorgeous painting - a lady in a dress that was done in a very abstract way.
I instantly saw my own version....a softer and less abstract dress...done with texture.
I used this vision in one of my monthly online tutorial teachings. We mixed several unusual colors (for me) for a very moody background just as I'd seen a fellow artist do in a recent online video.
If you like this moody background you can create it by using a bright red (Honky Tonk), a green (Tree Frog), a white (Fluff) and a black (Caviar).
I used a large round brush and mixed these colors randomly in a swirling motion.
It's a really cool process and one that I really enjoyed!
Creating the Textured Skirt
I then sort of randomly sketched out where my lady would stand as well as where her skirt would be......so I could begin playing in the MUD!
I used Dixie Belle's Mud to build the layers and ruffles of her skirt...
Ruffles that would later become wings...I just didn't know that yet.
This process is exactly like my angel wings canvas and I have a full tutorial where you can learn this process here.
This is always fun and makes me feel like a cake decorator (that's in my next life)!
Drawing the Girl
The drawing of the girl above the skirt was actually quite easy.
I encourage you to give this a try. Just google a few images and try sketching out your own version.
You may notice my girl does not have a face or hands....this may or may not be because I struggle with faces and hands! Many artists have the same struggle so I feel ok about it!
I painted her very freely paying very little attention to detail.......saving the detail work for her skirt! (i just had no idea how much detail at the time)
Adding Color to the Skirt
Keeping with the muted and romantic vibe of the background I continued on with the skirt in blend of Soft Pink and Plum Crazy.
I worked diligently painting and shading each individual ruffle.....and went to bed.
A Horrible Turn of Events
The next evening, our neighbors house burned down.....horrific and terrifying and sad!
However as the flames burned, I was mesmerized by the colors I saw. I wanted to paint the fire.....the power of the fire.
In addition to this, I remember my life timeline by my works of art and I wanted to document this memory in this canvas. So that very night, I went home and painted over the moody background with the colors of glowing embers...with my painted lady being illuminated from behind with the glow of the flames.
I used a bright yellow, a bright red, a deep red, and an espresso color laid down in short choppy cross hatch patterns.
I. AM. IN. LOVE!
Reimagining the Butterfly Girl Skirt
AND THEN......I didn't like the skirt anymore!
I used the color wheel to determine what colors would compliment the fire background but still no inspiration was revealed!
Until, I made my guest bed in preparation for a guest and stopped to admire my wallpaper that I love so much in that room...and thought...YES!
Richly colored butterflies!
I want to convert every single ruffle on her skirt...into a butterfly wing!
Lots and lots of butterfly wings!!!
I began by covering every leaf in a deep teal green with a blend of pistachio for highlights.
I then drew out my Monarch Butterfly wing design on all 100+ wings using a sharpie marker.
I worked in sections....as this was very time consuming and almost overwhelming.....but I was determined!
I painted around the drawn design in a deep black.
More Inspiration: Butterflies in Design
Butterflies have a way of sneaking into my pieces...either boldly as part of the design or in a more subtle way! Here are some of my butterfly piece for your inspiration. Which are your favorites?
Butterfly Canvas Art - learn how I start all my blank canvas & see the stunning finished piece
Butterfly Bombe Chest - textured elegance with butterfly design transfers
Purple Hollywood Glam - a design for an ultra glamorous dressing room
Whimsical Wonderland Transfer - Did you hear? I created my own design transfer
Flower Child Vanity - a mix of colors, patterns, and designs transfers for a complete design
Once dry.....I took the time to paint in every single green space with hues of cobalt blue and lime green....followed by the typical monarch bright white markings.
I don't even know how many hours this took....but my feet and legs went to sleep many times during the process.
I was almost pushed to emotional when I painted in that very last wing!
The Finishing Touch
The very last thing I did at the suggestion of my daughter (my last above listed inspiration) was to add the ivy crown to her head.
I do believe this was the chef's kiss....crowning glory.
I called her done.
The Final Reveal: Butterfly Girl on Fire Canvas Art
This was a labor of love like nothing I've done. She inspires us to embrace our inner power and embrace change fearlessly. Every stroke tells a story, every texture reflects resilience. This canvas is filled with so much of me that I may find it difficult to let her go.
However I fully believe that she was created through me FOR someone other than me.
The fire.
The wings.
The crown.
She holds a message...and I am honored to have been the messenger.
More Inspiration: Butterflies in Design
Butterflies have a way of sneaking into my pieces...either boldly as part of the design or in a more subtle way! Here are some of my butterfly piece for your inspiration. Which are your favorites?
Butterfly Canvas Art - learn how I start all my blank canvas & see the stunning finished piece
Butterfly Bombe Chest - textured elegance with butterfly design transfers
Purple Hollywood Glam - a design for an ultra glamorous dressing room
Whimsical Wonderland Transfer - Did you hear? I created my own design transfer
Flower Child Vanity - a mix of colors, patterns, and designs transfers for a complete design
And of course, don't forget to see the piece that inspired the butterfly wings.
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