Written by I decided to take a walk through the meadow for today’s #NatureDoodlewash and look at the butterflies. I’ve always been fascinated with these creatures. They’re such a wondrous sight, as if flowers grew tired of being planted all day and decided to say, “screw it! We’re out of here!” And the fact that they start out as a caterpillar is just even more amazing. Nature always has a plan and can really make some amazing transformations happen. That a strange little worm could turn into a beautiful flower gave me much hope and comfort during my awkward teen years.
As a kid, it seemed that butterflies were everywhere. Monarchs would be sailing through the air, fresh from their winter vacations in Mexico. But sadly, there are fewer of them today and there’s even been talk of extinction. Luckily they’ve rebounded some this year, but the human obsession for pesticides is still causing numbers to decline. I hope the butterflies will survive us. I can’t imagine a world without them. They are such an elegant reminder of the beauty nature creates in the world.
I’ve never really studied chaos theory, but I like the general idea of the “butterfly effect” – that small causes can affect large change. Some days, life seems like a celebration and other days it seems like nothing went right at all. On those bad days, I think about the butterfly effect and hope that some tiny thing I did might have caused something really wonderful to happen somewhere else. In this place I imagine, the day feels like a celebration, and I’m somehow part of making that happen. Somewhere I’ve never been before, far across a meadow full of butterflies.
Join me throughout the month of June on a virtual nature hike! Show everyone what you love most in nature with a watercolor sketch or painting and tag your images #NatureDoodlewash so we can all enjoy it with you! I’ll create a featured artist gallery of our global hike at the end of the month!
World Watercolor Month is coming in July! Click here to learn more!
About the Doodlewash
M. Graham watercolors: Permanent Pale Green, Sap Green, Cobalt Blue, Cobalt Teal, Pyrrol Red and Neutral Tint. Lamy Safari Al Star pen with Platinum Carbon black ink in a 5″ x 8″ 140 lb. (300 gsm) Pentalic Aqua Journal
Well said Charlie…..it looks like your butterfly are having the same exact conversation. Loving their little faces deep in butterfly talk.
Thanks so much Rebecca! 😃💕I was going to just do one but it seemed lonely! Hehe
Yes much better to have a pair….something I rarely see these days, usually only one!
Love these “beautiful blue butterflies “. I too remember the Monarchs flying everywhere. Thanks for writing about the precious butterfly, Charlie.
Thanks so much, Sharon! 😃💕Glad you liked this post. Nature scenes aren’t really my thing so this is a challenging month for me! 😊
I would never had expected that, your nature drawing skills are superb. By the end of the month you’ll be hooked!
How lovely! And what a treat it’d be to see two so close together… indeed, these days it’s a spectacle to just see one in the garden. I remember the days when we were overrun; there also used to be a butterfly farm on our seafront, which I think needs a revival! It’s the same as with the bees – our fault. Rooting for the flutterby.
The whole caterpillar thing still blows my mind!
Thanks so much, Jacob! 😃Glad you liked this…nature scenes are a bit harder for me so I’m still trying to work it all out. Hehe And yeah…the caterpillar thing is so wild!! I was so fascinated as a kid. Still am, actually! Lol
Beautiful thoughts and naturedoodle, Charlie!
Awww thanks so much, Catherine! 😃💕Appreciate it!
you are a very special person Charlie! what a wonderful attitude and philosophy. 🙂
it would be lovely if more of us, were like That!
your doodle is adorable with cobalt teal wings held aloft! 🙂
You’re too sweet! Thanks for the kind words, Debi! 😃💕 Glad you liked my doodlewash! I’m enjoying the challenge of this month. I haven’t painted scenes like this so it’s a struggle, but fun to try!
Challenges….. gosh, yours is going swimmingly Charlie! 🙂 they are so cute.
and, no matter what it is, the more you do the better you get. (I tell myself this all the time – for lots of stuff. bloody computers! LOL)
Haha! That’s why painting is so amazing! Time away from dealing with bloody computers! 😉lol
yes… I so agree 🙂 I’ve always wished for more painting time. along with every other artist!
Wow this is just so beautiful -I’m speechless really 😄
Awww thanks, Mimi! 😃💕That’s so sweet of you to say! 😊
Lovely post and painting!!!
Thanks so much, Sibella!! 😃💕
You’re very welcome❣
I’ve been noticing the butterflies lately – they are so carefree! 💜✨ I hope they survive as I can’t imagine not seeing them! Beautiful butterflies, Charlie! YAY! 😃🎨💕🌟🐛
Thanks so much, Jill! 😃💕Butterflies are tough to doodlewash!! 😊hehe So glad you liked them! Here’s to many more years of butterflies!!
They aren’t easy to draw either. Neither are pine cones… Lol! 😉 I decided to try something easier. I commend you for going for it!! 😊💜🎨
Beautiful painting Charlie. I’ve just restarted my herb garden and a couple of the plants are supposed to attract butterflies. I’ve got plans to turn the garden for the new house (once we’ve finished buying it) into a little haven for bees and butterflies. They are such a wonderful part of nature.
Thanks Carol! 😃💕 Oh wow! That’s awesome!! They’re are such an important part of nature and they’re lovely in the garden as well. That will be amazing!! A perfect addition to the new house! Congrats!! 😃
Wonderful, philosophic and true, Charlie! Sometimes I hope that my own little “butterfly-effects” like buying organic food or riding a bike instead of a car may change a tiny bit. Sometimes when I read the news or see what comes out of a big factory-chimney I doubt it.
Thanks Birgit! 😃💕I know, right? Sometimes big business and hoards of ignorant people are going to finish the job of destroying the planet for good. But I think the little “butterfly effects” from the rest of us do make a difference!
How beautiful Charlie I love, love, love butterflies they are the symbol of, soul, love, beauty and freedom and I love their colors! I have a tattoo on my left foot that represent two butterflies one is above the ankle bone and one is a very detailed monarch and is on the neck of the foo,t connected with some swirls it is beautiful! 😉 Your doodlewash is lovely you were able to capture the beauty of the butterflies fully! <3
Awww thanks Carolina! 😃💕I struggled with this one because it’s sort of out of my element. Hehe So pleased you think it worked. And those tattoos sound amazing!! Beautiful!!
You did great Charlie! <3
Butterflies are wonderful symbols for so many things, as well as being beautiful. I still see butterflies even in the city, but I remember seeing so many caterpillars as a child, and I think I’ve only seen one in recent years. And cocoons! Those were fun to find. Thanks for the reminder and smiles for those days Charlie. (K)
Thanks Kerfe! 😃That true…caterpillars and cocoons were more visible as well. Now I get excited like a kid again just to see a single butterfly.
Beautiful butterflies and I like that there are two. Love your commentary also.
Thanks Teri!! So glad you liked this one! 😃💕
Ironically, I just downloaded an old movie on my tablet, Papillon.
My brother-in-law has been growing milkweed and successfully “raising” monarch chrysalis to monarch butterflies. Hes been doing this for years. We have been planting bee and butterfly “approved” perenials. Hoping to get some milkweed seeds soon.
That’s awesome that your brother-in-law is doing that! Cool! And yay to movie too, Rob… does this mean you’ll be getting a butterfly tattoo soon? 😉
The butterflies are gorgeous! I’ve been to a few butterfly gardens (Niagra Falls and Houston come to mind..) and I love how colorful they are. But unfortunately, my son hates going! He gets creeped out by the butterflies so we never get to spend much time there. LOL.
So the butterfly flapping its wings won’t cause a hurricane in China or a tornado in Brazil, but I do believe in the idea behind the Butterfly Effect – small acts locally can change events globally.. Great post, Charlie!
Thanks, Kari! 😃💕Oh wow… so strange he gets creeped out by butterflies! lol And yes to little things making a big difference! Glad you liked this post.
What wonderful Talent you have, I came via Tom’s blog and his ladybug.. I love the idea of the Butterfly effect, Long may the positive waves ripple around the world..
Aww thanks so much for dropping by, Sue!😃💕 Thrilled you liked this and thanks for the wonderful compliment. 😊Here’s to positive waves… the world needs it!
Yes Charlie the world so needs it.. But I know there are many now opening up their Wings.. 🙂
Oh I missed this one! I love butterflies, you did a fine job Charlie 🙂 I have a Monarch story for you….lol I hope I am not stealing your thunder. While my daughter and her husband were in Mexico, they decided to take a trip to see where the Monarchs over-winter. My daughter said that the trees (evergreen firs) were so heavy with butterflies that all the branches literally drooped low and were so thick, all she saw were butterflies. Also, with all the butterflies flapping their wings together you could actually hear it! I can’t even fathom that. There…..I just had to share another story.
Thanks so much, Margaret! 😃💕Hehe… I’m all for storytelling, share away! I love that! This is a fabulous story…. I can see totally picture it and hear it and it’s incredible. What an amazing thing to experience, I’d love to be a part of that!
Love your use of the ‘butterfly effect’ in a positive way, and the image of “a meadow full of butterflies” just makes my heart sing. Your gorgeous painting is the magic finishing touch to a wonderful post.
Awww that’s so sweet of you to say! Thanks, Haunani! 😃💕