Oil on 17" x 22" wood panel, in 19 x 24" white frame
 
One of the "More to It" series currently on view at Harrison Public Library until June 4th, Unattached  plays with the concepts of attraction and detachment.
 
The concepts of most of my paintings are thoroughly planned out in my head and then sketched out preliminarily—either on paper or digitally—before I work on the final piece. But this one had a life of its own.

My initial idea included only the detached shadow of the Veronica flower. As the piece developed, the spoon and its shadow became detached as well. Then, in a moment of inspiration (and to resolve the issue of the empty space at the top left) the White Morpho butterfly fluttered into the painting.

Incidentally, Veronica flowers are excellent for attracting bees, hummingbirds…and butterflies! Coincidence? I don’t think so. Some things are meant to be.