Tag: butterflies

“Butterfly Ride in a World of Grace”

Posted on by Bohlender Art in acrylic painting, art, butterflies, children

While working on “Letter From Patmos: A Revelation of Jesus Christ,” I also completed the mixed media of butterflies and the painting “Best Friends in a Butterfly World.” The third in the butterfly series is an acrylic piece, 10″ wide by 40″ tall.

Acrylic is a different animal altogether than oil painting, yet after painting illustrations in 4 books in acrylic, I am beginning to get a better feel for it, and enjoy its possibilities.

“Butterfly Ride in a World of Grace” shares the imagination of a young boy, who hears butterflies speak and he flies on a regular basis.

It also shows that all the Light, Butterflies, Flowers and Adventures are given from the Hand of God.

“Butterfly Ride in a World of Grace” – 10″ x 40″ – Acrylic
©2020 Jean Bohlender

An awkward size canvas chosen for horizontal landscapes years back, I thought it was perfectly suited for this painting. I did not photograph the process for this one, yet my process is similar in most ways for oils, just the technique because of the medium changed.

Best Friends in a Butterfly World

Posted on by Bohlender Art in art, butterflies, children, Oil painting

These children have been friends pretty much half of their lives. They live in this world in a special way, they create together, run and play in a world of light and love. There isn’t much room for other things yet. Praise God.

Each has a loving mama, who take time to teach and be with their children. They read and sing and paint, and visit forests and nature centers and doggy parks.

I painting these “butterfly world” paintings, I get to visit them in this world.

“Best Friends in a Butterfly World” – 20″ x 20″ – Oil – ©2020 Bohlender

The painting took awhile, as I was also working on a book called, “Letter From Patmos: A Revelation of Jesus Christ,” a personal illustrated Bible study in the book of Revelation. I’ll post about that soon. Under this painting, was a wooded scene from years ago with lots of branches. Even though I sanded before reusing the canvas, there is still evidence of the older painting strokes. I liked them being there after all. I also changed plans mid way, removing a plant that was unnecessary and distracting, even though it was beautiful in person.

Here are photos of the process…

Flutterings, Shakings and Movings.

Posted on by Bohlender Art in art, butterflies, mixed media, Spirit of God, Uncategorized

Having received a batch of homemade papers from a friend, and a topic – “Butterflies”, once again I was moved into a creative mode in mixed media.

In this particular piece, the theme of “butterflies” evolved, or fluttered into thoughts about how do butterflies – or what do butterflies – tell us about God.

Well, in Genesis 1:2, the New American Standard Bible says: “The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.” Moving over the surface, or hovering over the face of the deep, or, in the Strong’s Greek Concordance you might find “fluttered” or “shook” or I can’t remember the others. The word might be in the Old Testament maybe five times.

“And the Spirit of God Fluttered Over the Surface of the Waters” -©Bohlender 2020

It seems that I have thought of that hovering as a birthing, or a resurrecting. Some say “brooding”, which leads me to sadness or pain, or death. Perhaps chaos. But in considering that the same word might be “fluttering”, there was a joy released into the creation and over the deep, more like a birthing or a working… a fluttering, and a working, digging deeply to extract all the goodness brought forth from the thoughts of God in the flowering of the universal creation.

“For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.”

Yes, of course this mixed media falls short of the grandness and beauty of our God, and all the beauty of the creation in Christ Jesus. But it is a nice thought to have flutter by.

In the mixed media, along with homemade papers, I used dried pansies and sunflower petals, copper wire, shiny things and sequins, acrylic paint, semi gloss mediums, shiny papers, glue, a box, pieces of other watercolor art works, and buried under gel mediums, tiny LED lights that I turn on, for fun.

Light in a Butterfly World

Posted on by Bohlender Art in art, butterflies, children, children, dogs, Grandchildren, oil paiinting, Oil painting, Uncategorized

My grandson loves to pretend he is a butterfly, or a dinosaur, or whatever new creature he is learning about. The uninhibited sense of wonder and joy springs from his heart, and I like entering that “Place” with him. Sometimes in his “Place” he goes on great boundary-less adventures, a wonder-filled place of vast Dimension, Light and Awe.

We were walking through a forested park with gentle trails where children could freely and safely adventure and learn. Their eyes lit up with expectation and each experienced their own realms… one in dancing and joy, one with a sense of mission, and one taking it all in and keeping up with the big kids as quickly as her little person willing could.

The dogs were not there that day, but I added his doggies so he could have a remembrance of them in later days. His doggies always watch out for him as their own puppy, and love him sincerely. Here they had his front side and back side well covered and protected, while running with their pack.

I might have subdued their clothing colors more  in keeping with a softer feelings of a dream world, but I more wanted to depict them as they were, recognizable at this stage in their lives.

What a gift to have friendships as little ones, growing up together with mamas who are good friends as well.

“Chasing Light in a Butterfly World” – 16″x 20″ – Oil – ©2020 Bohlender

I think I’m finished. But one never knows where adventures may lead.