What Is the Process of Creating Ethiopian Art From Butterflies
For two Laguna Beach artists, incorporating these stunning insects is well-nigh more than than simply creating artwork.
By Ashley Ryan
The Real Bargain
In that location are quite a few artists that paint butterflies, but few that pigment with them—which is exactly how Ken Denton, also known every bit The Butterfly Man, came up with the idea for his colorful creations. "I thought, what if my butterflies became pigment and I could paint a mosaic with them?" he recalls.
His framed mosaics, which characteristic bodily insects from butterfly farms across the globe, have been a staple at Sawdust Fine art Festival for nearly l years. But his introduction to the earth of butterflies was more scientific than creative.
"I started off as a child collecting everything—lizards, snakes, you name information technology. And, of course, butterfl[ies]," Denton says. His collection continued to grow, fifty-fifty subsequently he began creating, but his background really helped him develop pieces that are both cute and lasting.
"You tin can go to any good volume on museum preparatory work and come across the basics of how to preserve, what they have to do in museums," he notes. "I've just applied that technique, which is called preparatory science, over to the craft world."
Don't be fooled: Denton's method is a lengthy process that is certainly scientific in nature, down to the chemical smells created past his procedure. After visiting and forming connections with the staff at the farms—which he has visited all throughout the Amazon, Oceania and Southeast Asia—the collywobbles are mailed to him, and the work begins. Denton get-go puts them in a freezer to ensure they are sterile, then they are slipped into a relaxing container to soften. Next, he dries them in special drawers before using chemicals to cure them.
"It's never the same beyond the board," he says, noting that there are a number of spots along the style that tin cause problems if yous're not familiar with the species you're working with.
Denton also makes his own frames, sterilizing them as well, before precisely placing each butterfly within and sealing them up. "Any place at all on a frame where yous tin can get your concern card in, an ant or a silverfish or a carpet beetle can become in and eat the butterfly," he explains.
None of Denton's artwork uses wild-defenseless collywobbles, equally he buys exclusively from farms that raise caterpillars, take care of them until they transform, mate them and let them to live out a total lifecycle. Once they've died naturally, they are sent to buyers like him.
"If you're a niggling egg and y'all hatch in the middle of the Amazon on a foliage, your chances of becoming a full grown caterpillar and making a chrysalis and then hatching out as a butterfly and flying around in the air are probably i in a thousand," he says. Denton makes it his duty to educate his clients on the procedure and so they experience comfortable with where his pieces come from.
Some of his pieces characteristic big, bright blue morpho butterflies, while still others are flurries of reds and oranges, yellows or even vibrant greens or muted browns. In addition to the eye-catching mosaics, he has crafted other unique items, such equally an American flag made out of red, white and blue butterflies besides as the "Collywobbles Not Included" CD, which features photos of every California species.
For years, he traveled the country, selling his artwork at trade shows, country fairs, craft festivals (including those organized by the Laguna Arts and crafts Guild) and numerous other events. Now, he sticks exclusively to Sawdust, looking forward to the summers he spends with other artists, locals and tourists. He has fifty-fifty donated the majority of his personal collection to museums similar the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.
His storied career has taken him to jungles around the world, which he says is 1 of his favorite parts of the artwork he creates. "It all started with collecting—wanting to get things I hadn't collected before," Denton adds. "[I've] met some wonderful people, saw some great places I never would accept seen. All of that because of the butterfly business."
Ken Denton
(aka The Butterfly Human being)
949-494-3635; thebutterflyman.com
A Learning Process
Although Linda Ames does not utilise actual butterflies in her pieces, that doesn't mean they aren't there in spirit. In fact, that's 1 of her favorite things about incorporating them into her sterling silver jewelry. "They're absolutely beautiful and take such an incredible desire to survive and it's really centre touching," Ames says of the insects. "They have some very stiff spiritual meanings—the monarchs, especially."
Her experience with monarch collywobbles started shortly after she moved from Portland, Oregon, to Laguna Beach in 2000. "I was walking back from the beach and there were shadows on the ground and … I looked upward and I found that they were monarch collywobbles," she says. Not having many butterflies in Oregon, she saturday down to sentinel them and formulated an idea.
On and off since then, Ames has been raising her own monarchs, right in her living room. After purchasing a mesh enclosure, she searched for their eggs on the bottom of milkweed leaves, grew her ain milkweed to feed them and gave them a safe identify—free from whatsoever predators—to eat every bit caterpillars, tuck up in a chrysalis and transform into bold orange-and-black collywobbles.
"It's all office of connecting with whatsoever information technology is y'all're trying to spotlight," Ames notes. "And so, they become more than merely a sterling silver image."
Time spent raising monarchs inspired the artist's Circle of Life series, which now features hollowed out discs affixed with everything from hummingbirds and dragonflies to turtles and sea lions, in addition to collywobbles. The discs themselves take intricate detailing that represents the wildlife she features—things like flowers and leaves for the insects and hummingbirds or kelp, sand dollars and ocean stars for the marine animals.
But these tiny details aren't carved directly onto the silver. Instead, Ames uses a procedure called lost wax casting. The technique is incredibly involved, starting with carving the circles, wildlife and details in soft wax—her favorite part, due to the creative talent it takes. Then, she adheres the pieces to a "tree" in a special container called a flask, which is filled with investment, or a type of plaster, that creates a shell in the shape of the items she has carved. Placed in a kiln, the plaster hardens while the wax melts away (hence the name). Ames then pours liquid sterling argent—heated to 1760 degrees—into the mold to grade her necklaces and earrings.
Using this technique ensures that each piece is one of a kind. "To me, they're all special," she says. "It's but not in me to produce a whole bunch of pieces that all wait the same."
Although she has found success creating artisanal jewelry, metalworking is not where Ames got her start. She has besides washed painting, glassmaking, printmaking, watercolor and more. Currently, she is learning photography and hopes to eventually learn to sculpt. "Every bit an artist, … I've always believed that your art course is the journey that y'all want to express and share with people," Ames notes.
Her personal journey takes her to both the summer and winter Sawdust Art Festival shows, where she has displayed her creations for most twenty years. Ames is also a regular at the Laguna Craft Lodge shows, which have resumed each Sunday at Main Beach. Interested parties may also commission custom pieces through her website.
Linda Ames Jewelry
949-395-6003; lindaamesjewelry.com
Artful Advantages
In December, Laguna Outreach for Community Arts announced new membership benefits to thank supporters for their help. The local arts nonprofit, which has been a prominent fixture in Laguna Beach for more than than 25 years, is fabricated up of professional artists, educators and enthusiasts who believe in the importance of creativity. Supporters will now receive priority registration for all LOCA and Senior Fine art Escape classes, likewise as special members-only pricing and complimentary access to LOCA fine art talks. Discounts for a number of local organizations are being granted as well, including access to venues such as Laguna Art Museum, Festival of Arts and Laguna Playhouse, plus coupons for 10% off at Laguna Fine art Supply to selection upwardly any necessary materials for crafting your own visual fine art. Each fellow member will also be invited to an annual commemoration for the nonprofit, one time events tin can safely exist held. Sign upwards or renew your membership on LOCA's website. (locaarts.org) —Ashley Ryan
Covered with Creativity
Originally hailing from China, Qi Qun Pan, who is a resident artist at Avran Fine Fine art, has been creating abstract artwork for roughly three decades, combining techniques from the Eastern and Western worlds to develop his own approach. Despite having no formal art training, the Los Angeles-based painter has found success, near recently in the form of a scientific journal embrace: His "Untitled" mixed media original was featured on the cover of the January 2021 issue of American Journal of Critical Care; some other of his works, titled "Giving Thanks," graced the cover of the March 2021 issue. A publication for the American Clan of Disquisitional-Care Nurses, AJCC features original, peer-reviewed research articles including everything from cursory reports and systematic reviews to clinical trials and methodical studies. (Avran Fine Art: avranart.com) (AJCC: ajcconline.org) —A.R.
Gallery Events
Avran Fine Art
As part of the Professional Mentoring Programme with Laguna College of Art & Design—which Avran Fine Fine art has participated in for 4 years now—the gallery is didactics student Melanie La May nearly the process of becoming a resident creative person, mentoring her virtually while also displaying and selling her artwork at Avran through April 9. (949-494-0900; avranart.com)
The Grace Galleries
For one night only, on March 28, The Grace Galleries will host a special charity event in support of the Laguna Beach Animal Shelter. Held outdoors from 2-5 p.grand., the event will feature live music, live painting and an fine art auction as well equally a pastel-colored apparel code. (949-690-0318; thegracegalleries.com)
JoAnne Artman Gallery
A special exhibition titled "Yes, Masters II: A Manthology" offers unique pieces past Danny Galieote, Greg Miller and Michael Callas, all of whom are leaving behind their usual styles to create new, 1-of-a-kind takes on classic pieces of artwork through the lens of themes like identity and individualism; it volition be on display through April 16. (949-510-5481; joanneartmangallery.com)
Laguna Beach City Hall
More 50 footling pieces of art are currently existence showcased at Metropolis Hall, ranging from oil paintings and wool/silk pieces to digital photography by Veronica Gray and a monotype by Hedy Buzan. "Fine art That's Minor at Metropolis Hall" will run through Apr 15, with awards announced virtually on April 1; appointments are required for viewing the exhibit. (949-497-3311; lagunabeachcity.net)
Laguna Plein Air Painters Association
Each bound, Laguna Plein Air Painters Clan hosts "Waterworks," a commemoration of watercolor paintings crafted by plein air artists. Typically held in residence at Forest & Sea Gallery, the group is currently showcasing its exhibitions virtually; this juried event will feature an auction of the finalists' pieces from May iii-9. (949-376-3635; lpapa.org)
Las Laguna Gallery
In "Sky's the Limit," a grouping show that will run throughout the calendar month of April both online and within the Laguna Beach gallery, artists from a variety of mediums will present their favorite artworks, as the open up-call exhibit does non have a ready theme. Select artwork volition be displayed in person while all pieces will be viewable digitally. (949-505-0950; laslagunagallery.com)
LCAD Gallery
MFA drawing and painting students from Laguna College of Fine art & Blueprint will be the center of attention at "2020 Hindsight: An LCAD Gallery Exhibition," which volition highlight themes like passion, resiliency and dedication in the midst of a worldwide pandemic, tumultuous political events and unrest across the land; the showroom continues through April 23. (949-376-6000; lcad.edu)
Pacific Edge Gallery
Following a gallery reception for resident artist Sandra Jones Campbell, who celebrated her 20th year at the gallery in 2020, in March, the gallery is hosting a show titled "Defunction Up" through April x that will feature new works by the expressionist artist, who offers quick glimpses at "moments of personal apprehension" in social settings. (949-494-0491; pacificedgegallery.com)
The Signature Gallery
View new pieces from contemporary impressionist Cara Pabst Moran, daughter of Charles H. Pabst, some other resident creative person at The Signature Gallery. Her latest additions include paintings similar "Shimmering Surf," "Merry Tune" and "Dandelions," all of which are colorful and reminiscent of spring. (949-376-4244; www.thesignaturegallery.com)
Sue Greenwood Fine Art
Stop past to explore a group testify through April xviii, with new works from large-scale artist Danny McCaw, figurative painters Marianne Kolb and Jennifer Pochinski, gimmicky portrait artist Stephen Maffin and sculptor Cathy Rose. (949-494-0669; suegreenwoodfineart.com)
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Source: https://www.lagunabeachmagazine.com/brilliant-butterflies/
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