Why monarchs and marigolds?
Isn't the alliteration nice? I just love the way monarchs and marigolds roll of the tongue. But that isn't why I choose to put these two together. Let me tell you about the artwork before I tell you why.
Monarchs are one of the most intriguing pollinators. Migrating 3.000 miles just to land on the flowers in your yard. That's pretty incredible.
Because of this amazing feat, they had to be included in this series.
My Vision (if part of email list you can skip to next section)
What was the best way to show them off? I envisioned a little cabin with a beautiful fence around the property where marigold and tomatoes grew.
The only problem with this fence was that it was in disrepair because no one had care for it after all the plants died.
The background in charcoal sets the scene for this abandoned little property with the fence drawn in ink to show the fence had once been strong but now it was dreary too.
With the background finished, I had to add some color and life back into this little garden. Colored pencils to the rescue. The rich bright colors did the trick. Creating a top layer of flowers and butterflies that stood up to the darkness.
So, finally, if not because of the fun alliteration, why monarchs and marigolds? I wanted you to feel warm when looking at this piece. Marigolds and monarchs are both warm colors. Bright orange and red remind us of a warm summer afternoon or a cozy warm fire that prevents the darkness from crawling in. Together they are perfect for bringing warmth back to an empty world.
Some fun facts about:
Monarchs
1. Monarch caterpillars only eat milkweed which is toxic to other animals. This toxicity becomes so much a part of the they have very few predators because they taste horrible.
2. While other butterflies migrate, monarchs are the only species whose "summer generation" completes a full two-way trip.
3. Monarchs love a variety of flowers, not just milkweed, including asters, coneflowers, and zinnias.
4. To help with monarch tracking visit Monarch Watch
Marigolds
1. Marigold can range is size from 6"-48" tall and 6"-36" wide.
2. They have a strong unpleasant smell that helps keep pests out of gardens.
3.They are also great for keeping the soil in your garden healthy because they naturally control soil-borne nematodes.
4. Marigolds are edible. Make sure you research more about this before you eat them.
Oder Prints