God’s paintbrush

(Comma, Silver Washed Fritillary, small Skipper)

With sweet echoes of the past, my hubby and I have spent some of our week off walking shady trails through the New Forest. Broken sunshine, enticing pathways and jumbled corners of grasses and bramble has ensured the warm, dappled sunlight that butterflies so enjoy. Flitting from flower to flower and lingering on the grass or thistle we have delighted in their bright splashes of colour against the vibrant green of bracken and oak. Sweeping our net has enabled us to compare the dark green and silver washed fritillary before release sees them eagerly climbing to the sky once again. The Skippers, Meadow Browns or Ringlets are loping brown dots until you look closely and compare the spots, tones and folded wings.

I like to think of butterflies as works from God’s paintbrush. The picture finished, He highlights a bright spot of colour here, or a dark shade of brown there. You’d hardly notice them unless you take the time, but they bring contrast and detail to the whole. Although these are not my normal lino prints, but rather quick sketches with paint and fine-liner, they are a source of delight, a brightspot in a dark time, a source of joy and energy and also promise for the future as they seek a plant in which to lay their eggs.