The Book of Life

There are about 19,500 species of butterflies. They only live from a few days up to 9 months at the most. Unlike humans, they can see ultraviolet colors that help them locate the best flowers.

Mostly, we love them because of their colorful wings.

In his book Carbon: The Book of Life, Paul Hawken said about butterflies, "Millions of years ago, genes began to paint wings with pigmented designs of extraordinary fidelity and complexity. Who was the artist?"

Who, indeed?

The giant owl butterfly of Central and South America was brilliantly designed. When its wings are closed, it looks a pile of dead leaves with huge eyes to keep predators away. But when they open, they reveal a hidden a palette of vibrant, iridescent colors.

Many see butterflies as symbols of loved ones passed. They're so magical, so beautiful, they seem almost unreal. In Mexico, the monarch butterfly symbolizes the souls of deceased ancestors returning to the living world for the annual Dia de Los Muertos celebration. Indigenous communities such as the Purépecha have long believed that these butterflies carry the spirits of the departed, using their annual migration from California to Michoacan, Mexico as a sign of the connection between life and death, representing transformation, renewal, and hope.

I'm still working on the first in my "Map of the Butterfly" series. It's taking an interesting turn. The patterns on the wings are asking me to render them like gems and lace. Maybe it's the influence of painting all those Renaissance Disney portraits! Whatever it is, there's a deeper story coming out. Like a caterpillar morphing into its final phase.

With love and light,

Maggie