Words + Images

the butterfly field

This particular creative expression began as part housecleaning and part trying to entertain myself while housebound during a blizzard (a blizzard which continues, by the way). Flipping through a stack of books I haven’t read in ages, I came across a book about Japanese Noh robes, Patterns and Poetry, produced by the Rhode Island School of Design. A visually stunning book. I was motivated to pick up some colored pens and paper and see what might emerge as I lingered over each colorful page.

Nature is a predominant theme of the costume designs, and so as the world turned white around me I decided to free sketch and see what might happen. Drawing a heron is bit beyond me at this stage but I knew I could handle branches, leaves, berries and butterflies. I scratched a few lines on paper and then moved on to GIMP.

butterfly field mug

What evolved was the height of simplicity, my little nature sequence of leaves, then berries and then a butterfly in a field. Not quite Picasso but rather fun, I have to say, on a gray day in a troubled world, to produce a colorful flight of fancy. Enjoy.

butterfly field scarf, 10″ x 45″