Monarch butterflies are lovely especially when set off against a blue sky, I think. This mini oil painting started with just the Monarch on the left but I thought one looked a bit lonely so added a second …a bit of a challenge to paint one edge one like that! They were the most common butterfly around when I was a kid – sadly not so common now.
(C) 2023 Hilary Farmer
The California lilacs are bursting with blooms and humming with life at this time of year. Capturing the scene including a little tricolour bumblebee seemed such a natural choice …and that tiny pop of orange really makes the painting!
(C) 2022 Hilary Farmer
Continuing to feel the need for a feeling of summer sunshine and warmth. This local tri-colour bumble bee is enjoying the pollen of the blackberry blossoms. Blackberries are a bit controversial here because the (now) most common variety is a non-native invasive species …but sooo delicious. The native wild ones are even better – when I can find them!
image (C) 2022 Hilary Farmer
The last in this series of mini paintings celebrating small creatures. Sorry (not sorry) about the title! I find the bilingual pun amusing. 😀
I love sweet fuzzy bumble bees and this one is definitely getting all the pollen from the rose that’s possible. It’s a bit hard to remember the warm sunny weather we were having when I painted this one with the November rain pounding down overhead …but looking at this small painting does bring back that summer feeling.
image (C) 2021 Hilary Farmer
Swallowtail butterflies were less commonly seen when I was young at least where I grew up. So the sight was more treasured for being rare when they gently floated over the flowers in my mother’s perennial border. These days they are a more common sight where I live than monarchs, but I still love to see them grace a flower as they pause to rest.
image (C) 2021 Hilary Farmer
Green Tea Doodles 