Blue Morpho – Front and Back 2018

Scott Fraser, who was born in 1957, has made this painting called Blue Morpho, Front and Back, and it's like he's caught these butterflies in a moment of stillness, pinning them to the canvas with his brush. I can imagine him in his studio, squinting at the light as he mixes his paints, trying to capture the luminous quality of those blue wings and the earthy tones of the other. The butterflies almost appear to be floating on the surface, suspended in time. The details are so precise, you can almost feel the delicate texture of their wings. Look at the subtle gradations of color and the way he's used light and shadow to create depth, making the butterflies feel like they could flutter right off the canvas. It's like Fraser is saying that we're all connected, each of us a small part of something much larger, each with our own unique beauty and purpose. And painting is how he reminds us of that.