Butterflies, Birds & Wildlife · horizontal

Jeweled Filigree Wings, Gold and Blue Butterfly

A large butterfly with open wings sits in the center of a pale cream background patterned with faint, mirrored swirls. Its wings are packed with golden spirals, rings and white oval cutouts, laid over rich cobalt blue and touches of green and orange. A thin dark red-brown outline defines the wing shapes, and the slender body and antennae run down the center. The whole design is perfectly symmetrical, with warm gold and deep blue standing out against the soft, light background.

Someone would want this butterfly because it reads as jeweled and ornate rather than naturalistic. Gold lace-like spirals, white oval openings and saturated cobalt blue and green swirls fill each wing, so it looks like stained glass or filigree. The warm gold and deep blue sit against a pale, ghostly cream scroll pattern, so the butterfly stands out clearly. Strict mirror symmetry makes it feel formal, balanced and celebratory. It is a cheerful, decorative butterfly that rewards close looking.

Artwork by Omaste Witkowski