Butterfly Paintings

Art by Carol May

I enjoy painting and butterfly paintings are one of my great joys. They have so much color and God given beauty. What a wonderful gift of God.

The butterfly is a symbol of "New Life"; like the new life we have in Jesus when we are born again.

The butterfly changes from a caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly. We become beautiful in God's eyes when we are born again.




The Common Buckeye Butterfly a dark colored butterfly with it's big eye-spots is a frequent visitor to many yards. I photographed it when I saw it on my white daisy mums. It made such a beautiful contrast that I wanted to paint it.




I saw these Large Tree Nymph Butterflies at the Butterfly Rainforest in Gainesville, Florida. They were feeding on False Hydragea flowers. They are from southeast Asia.

They and the Blue Morpho were the largest butterflies there about six inches in width. I was inspired to paint these beauties. I painted some of the leaves flying to mimic the flight of the butterflies.

Is is lots of fun as well as educational to go to butterfly gardens. If you have one near you, I highly recommend a visit.




The Giant Swallowtail Butterfly is amazing to me not only because it is a very large butterfly but, because of the color change from the top side of it's wings to the underside. If you see the different sides of it's wings at different times it is hard to realize that it is the same butterfly because the underside is mostly pale and more yellow looking. And the topside has the brilliant black and yellow, very stunning.

I did this butterfly painting in watercolor with him sitting on a Lantana bloom. Lantana is my favorite butterfly plant. It attracts many kinds of butterflies.




I saw these lively little Southern White Butterflies flitting around on the roadside daisies the Spanish Nettle or sometimes called Beggar's Weed because the seeds stick to your socks.

I saw them on a cold January day in Florida, which surprised to see them when it was so cold. But they have to eat whether it was cold or not.

They were on daisies which are one of my favorites and a favorite of butterflies, also. The butterflies like them because it gives them a landing pad to sit down while they eat. I like them because of their carefree nature.



The White Peacock Butterfly is common in central and south Florida. It can be seen in grassy and weedy fields.

It is unusual in that it many times opens it's wings while it is feeding or resting.

Most butterflies fold their wings up over their heads while they are feeding. This gives them more protection from preditors because they can't be seen as well.

I did this painting in a free style. I put penta flowers in the painting. Pentas are a great favorite of butterflies. I recommend that you plant them in your garden for butterflies.



Next to the Monarch Butterfly I consider the Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly the next well known butterfly. It lives over a large area of the United States.

I saw one very early on spring feeding off of the Carolina Jasmine vines in my back yard. I just had to paint it. It is such a beautiful backyard critter.







The Gulf Fritillary is another one of those butterflies that looks very different between it's top and bottom sides. The bottom sides has lovely silvery spots.

I did this painting in Caseins with the butterfly on Lantana again.

I enjoy the butterflies in my yard and I enjoy doing butterfly paintings. I hope that they bring joy to your life, too. They are a beautiful free gift from God.

I have original paintings in both watercolor and oils.
Also limited edition reproductions suitable for a 16x20 mat and frame.
And open edition prints suitable for your 11x14 mat and frame.

You will find them all in the Art Store

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