Butterfly Rainbow

Let me tell you the story behind this painting
 
Every now and then I find a canvas print in a charity shop, or someone gives one to me, and I like to paint some new life into it
 
I like to “upcycle” them I guess
 
I can’t remember what this picture was when I got the canvas but I remember feeling quite stressed.
 
This came through in a black and white experiment with the butterflies. That was an exploration into using a palette knife, which I don’t use very often. And that is what the painting was - just black and white.
 
And although butterflies represent freedom to me, I was being free with my paint but not free with my mind.
 
I do get quite stressed sometimes. And I get upset and have dark moments. This is what this painting began to mean to me.
 
But I had it in the studio at the same time I was asked to hang some art work in a coffee shop in town. I thought someone might like it, so I put on the wall and there it hung until a few months ago.
 
It then went in a big sale, which I dont do very often and no one said a thing about it and of course it didn’t sell.
 
Suddenly, one day, I got the painting bug. I’d finished a commission, and procrastinating on the prep to start the next. But as I had all the paints out - I just painted straight over those black and white butterflies in vibrant colours.
 
The rainbows are a celebration of life - that’s why I like painting them. The butterflies, now vibrant are freedom from the sad times of before.
 
You can see a lot of history in this painting , through texture marks and the palette knife details - this just emphasises how we are free to leave our past selves behind and celebrate the now.
 
I didn’t think this would make me smile as much as it is. 
 
But if it’s speaking to you too, then you should buy this.
 
If you belong in the print club, you get your original art discount - send me a message and let's chat
 
 
 
90x60cms Acrylic on canvas