Nature Scrolls

Nature Scrolls are the newest works, begun in 2003. They are mixed-media, three-dimensional hangings painted on sheer materials with airbrush and paintbrush. They deal with the life cycles of butterflies from caterpillar to pupae to butterfly. The butterflies are hand-painted, three-dimensional, made of acetate and synthetic parchment and "fly" against the backdrops. The caterpillars, pupae and host plants are sculpted and rest in sheer pockets sewn to the backdrops. Each component is life-sized. These works represent the metaphor of metamorphosis and are an aesthetic, rather than a scientific response to nature.

	Zebra Longwings are the flashing black beauty State Butterflies of Florida. They are passionate about passion flowers, the polka-dotted caterpillars like the leaves and the adults sip on the nectar. 65" X 27," background painted on muslin.
	Detail

The Julia Longwing is a fast flyer and emerges from a particularly unattractive caterpillar and chrysalis. The ugly duckling becomes a brilliant orange Cinderella and like the Zebra, feeds on passion flowers. 27" X 36," background painted on nylon net.

The Blue Morphos of Costa Rica are among the most beautiful butterflies in the world. They live in the rainforest, flashing brilliant blue lights when their wings are open. Closed, their intricate brown undersides masterfully camouflage as wood against tree trunks and the large eyespots allow them to pose as larger animals to fool predatory birds. The fuzzy caterpillars are the ugly ducklings that precede the swans to come. Morphos love fermented fruit and are often easy to attract when they are a little drunk and fly slowly and wobbly. Background on Lutrador. 29”X48.”

Detail

Everglades Series

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