oil on panel
20" x 16"
One word to describe much of my work, especially this one, is "visceral". The palette and brushwork contribute to the feeling as well as the imagery of the butterflies making their way out of the gut. The emerging pale blue-violet butterfly contrasts with all the heat, giving the picture a bite like strong blue cheese. The picture is about the process of letting go, which is sometimes painful. The other versions of this image (done as a digital image and as an etching) are more about letting worries go, whereas this painting is about letting go of people, things, or ideas that have enough personal meaning that they feel a part of you. The butterflies in the background are like ghosts.
