"The Monarch Princess" A Painting created with Love

THE MONARCH PRINCESS

24in x 48in (60cm x 122cm)

Oil on Canvas

Metamorphosis is one of natures wonders. The metamorphosis of insects has always triggered wonder into my thoughts. The morph of the Butterfly (and Moths) is amazing no matter how you look at it. Egg to Larvae, which grows into Caterpillar for about 2 weeks, then creates a chrysalis.....to emerge a beautiful, beautiful Butterfly. The wonders of nature....

So as many of you know I have been in the process of creating  large paintings of insects. I am working real hard to create an entire show with my minds eye view of some of the earths most beautiful creatures. I call this series "My Bug Collection" As a child, as with almost everyone, I was so interested with the creatures that lived in my backyard. I would collect, observe and yes, dissect a few. I love bugs, even the ones that are a pain in the butt ("I am Just a House Fly"). They all have so much beauty even if the are like mean, mini Jet Fighters ("Wasp the YellowJacket). My thought was to create very large detailed paintings of these cool creatures. Show some but not all detail, try and make a "feel" more than a picture. I do not want any real background stated in the piece. I did not want them to be anywhere but in a space. Just them....as I see them. They are my focal point throughout my series. Subtle colors grace and envelope the image. They are alone to be just what they are. 

My Bug Collection is far from complete. To date I have 3 completed. A House Fly, Wasp, and now the Monarch Caterpillar. I am in process with 2 others as we speak....A Monarch Butterfly (to compliment this piece ("The Monarch")) and a Grasshopper ("The Grasshopper"). I have a few other bugs in the pipeline to get created soon. 

You can see the step by step photo album of "The Monarch Princess" and all the painting in the series at my facebook artist page Click here to see the view... 

The Creation....and the Love that went into this Piece

Life is beautiful.....

   This year will be one I will never forget. Not only have I worked real hard and completed some of my best work to date it also brings my greatest creation ever.....My Masterpiece!!! I will be soon blessed with my first child. (July 30th is the due date) We know she is a girl and her name shall be Sparrow.............

   When we had confirmation that everything was 100% on the cool with the pregnancy I set out to display my emotions through the one way I know how, start a painting! I wanted to capture a few of my thoughts with my oil paints. This painting is the result of my feelings so far....

    I could not get her out of my mind......I would imagine millions of things as I was putting brush to canvas, what she will look like, her smile, her inner energy, her first boyfriend etc. etc, etc. It was the feeling of pure joy coupled by stints of pure worry. Every brush stroke I took the thought of her seeing this painting with her own eyes someday would bring tears to my eyes. The thought of, in the years ahead she will be sitting watching me paint and me watching her. Yes, many episodes of watery eyes as I painted thinking of my Sparrow....

   When I paint, it is the time of my day that I truly can step into another world. I equate it to meditation or yoga or the artistic. This is the time I Dream!........Now the process has changed much like the Caterpillar will...... I have changed...and will change even more...I have a new role as a Dad.....and this painting is my first step into learning that role, at least on an artistic level. My paintings will change....I now know that Sparrow will have all of my work that I keep as an Artist Collection. If I should leave this earth, she will have a very large part of my being that lives in my paintings. She can always visit me by just taking a look. Yes that will change how you work as an artist......

   As you can probably figure....This painting will not be up for sale...Actually It no longer belongs to me! I created it with her in my thoughts....... and it now belongs to Sparrow. It shall be hers forever......The painting Daddy created when he found out he was going have a Princess of his own....My first gift of Love to my little Sparrow....

   Don't worry.....I will show it in the coming years. Place it in shows, let it hang in a few Galleries....get it out there so folks can see it for sure....it is so beautiful that I want to share it with the world. Matter of fact the painting will debut publicly for the upcoming Artist Against Hunger  Show. I will be showing..along with 80 of the regions best and talented artists to raise some cash for Feeding America...to feed the Hungry here in South Dakota USA on June 1st and 2nd....There is also some other Gallery shows that are in her near future (more info on that in due time)....In essence, It is special and will become more special....the more people that see it the more Love that enters it......and now it is hers!!

A Raw photo of her outside...

Follow the Step by Step photo journal of how I created this painting

Step by Step of "The Monarch Princess"

Thank you for taking the time to check this quick blog post out....Please Please feel free to leave some comments....I would love to hear your thoughts...here or on any of my social media stuff (you can find all those links in my side bar --->

Peace and Love to you on this....and everyday!!