Dark Sky Butterfly By Kathy Dietz

36" Large Butterfly

Rich in color of the night, the butterfly as it flutters through the daylight hours, seeks to remind us of the intense beauty of the night with its jeweled star-studded sky. She reminds us of the peace night brings, a relief from the elements and problems of the day. She feels beauty and power that is reflected in the colors she displays, turquoise--the color of kinds, shamans. And warrior, purple--the combination of blue and red that resonated with nobility and strength.

Fountain Hills Dark Sky designation inspired me to create a butterfly in the deep shades of nightfall, replete with stars.

About the Artist...

My interest in art started relatively early. Earned a small art scholarship at the exact same time I was accepted into another science program, so art was put on hold. In early 1990 I met Lou Maestas from Art Masters Academy in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Over the next several years my paintings began to grow in size and depth and to take on a style of it's own. Primarily working in pastels and concentrating on landscapes, I enjoyed the challenges nature can throw at an artist. When Lou moved from Albuquerque, he encouraged me to expand into another medium. For the next five years I was mentored by Jan Keefer in oils.

Although landscapes are my love, the sky drives my passion for color. The sky has its own brilliance, intensity, spirit, and emotion that I feel I can capture in my paintings. Working primarily from photographs, I am able to combine the yearning for the outdoors with the tranquility of my studio. I feel that art can touch a persons soul and spirit and I am grateful for the gift I've been given.