No it's not summer outside, but in the studio, who can say, wow I can smell the beautiful flowers and the air is sweet with a newer rain shower.

This buterfly is scientifically called Limenitis arthemis astyanax, commonly called the red-spotted purple, although as you see the spots are orange and the colors are browns with blues.  The subfamily is the Admirals (Limenitidinae). I was in the Willow River State Park, in Hudson,WI having a great butterfly day a couple of summers ago, and in my files and a part of my February painting she is right before your eyes.

A very good poem, written by May Swenson (Anna Thilda May Swenson) in 1968 published in the New Yorker Magazine, in June 22,1968 issue, is called "unconscious came a beauty." She is out of doors writing poems, and a red-spotted purple lands on her wrist of her writing hand, she stops to wonder and gaze at the beauty sitting on her wrist, then includes this wonderful scene in her poem. You might look this up when you get the chance.

The reason I love butterflies is because they are so delicate, so light and airy and they can fly for thousands of miles, making relative ease of a very long journey. The Greek word for butterfly is "psyche" meaning "soul", can you pitcure how much the ancient Greeks knew? Like a butterfly we are on a journey.

Enjoy your day, and the butterflies. of the summer winds.

Jimmy