“Chrysalis”
6 x 6" watercolor


“Empty chrysalis”
6 x 6" watercolor


“Ta da!”
6 x 6" watercolor

Just over a week ago, I noticed the lovely delicate fennel plant in my garden was stripped of foliage. About a dozen or more caterpillars were feasting on its delicate leaves. When I went out to photograph the caterpillars two days later, they had gone. A single chrysalis was left in their place. I brought the chrysalis inside and proceeded to paint it in its first stage of development. Showing the chrysalis to a friend this morning, I notice it had turned much more brown in color. Next thing I knew, I had a wonderfully still model for as long as it took me to do the painting above. Almost as if he knew, he slowly waved his wings, letting me know it was time to go outside. As we were waiting for the sun to give him strength, I cautioned him about flying into cars and to be on the lookout for birds. The end of my story, I feel sure, is the beginning of his. The Black Swallowtail butterfly nonchalantly fluttered off.