8 x 8 canvas

I’ve decided to start work on some small canvases, after finishing my last 36″ x 48″ Painted Lady. I have two going right now, an orange zinnia, which is one of my favorite flowers, this is on a 12″ x 12″ canvas and a gulf fritillary on an 8″ x 8″ canvas. I really love painting the large canvases, but the small allow me to really concentrate on the details and I am a detail person. With Christmas around the corner, I’m not finding much time to paint, but I am more than enjoying the trade off, time with family and friends, whom I love dearly! Wishing the best of the Holidays to all.

12 x 12 canvas

Twin Mix II

This work is a collaborative effort between Karen and I. Our inspiration, the Gulf Fritillary Butterfly and the beautifully intricate passion flower.  We have so many of these Fritillary Butterflies in our side yard, the reason we have them, is because we have several passion vines planted. These butterfly lay their eggs on the leaves of the passion vine, they are very small yellow spheres, which eventually produce the caterpillar. These guys have a ferocious appetite and could easily strip all the leaves on the vine. The leaves grow back, and the vine continues to produce its beautiful flower, as the chrysalis transform into the Fritillary butterfly. It is spectacular to come out in the morning and have 30 or more butterflies scurrying about our yard. Plant some passion vines, if they will thrive in your area,  you will be providing much needed habitat for many varieties of Fritillary butterflies.

Passion flower & Gulf Fritillary in side yard