12th October 2025 Beena
When I shared this watercolour painting of a large, unique butterfly with beautifully patterned wings that are mainly blue, it sparked a lot of interest. The butterfly’s unusual size and striking wing patterns seemed to have caught your attention. I used a variety of colours for this painting, including one from Sennelier, a brand known for its vibrant hues.
Let me tell you about the Sennelier paints I used for this painting. These paints, which incorporate honey as a preservative, are renowned for their brilliant, luminous, and intense colours. Painting white in watercolour can be challenging, as most artists try to preserve the white of the paper. In my case, I lost the white, but the Sennelier paints came to my rescue, enhancing the overall vibrancy of the painting.
The brilliant orange-yellow of the flower also comes from the Sennelier paint. I used the caption that ‘I hope this butterfly will make you smile’. When a comment pointed out that the butterfly is unusually large, I responded with a smile, ‘Precisely why it will surprise you and bring a smile on’. Many of you thanked me for this intention to bring a smile.
It is not always easy to smile. When we were young and innocent, it was simple to laugh and take our smiles for granted. As adults, weighed down with countless responsibilities, a smile becomes a luxury. I hope that every Friday, my art can bring a smile to your face, even if only for a moment.
2 thoughts on “Smile is a Luxury”
Hi Beena, I like how your nectar/honey-sipping butterfly was painted with ‘honeyed’ watercolours. Isn’t it a wonderful property. I use it on my stem cuttings to encourage root growth, it’s also anti fungus which protects the cuttings from bacteria.
Beautiful & interesting…..