Dragonflies and Daughters

 Featured image: Hope

This musing first posted -June 7th 2020. Memories are our history. This memory never leaves me. Recently my daughter sent me a photograph of a dragonfly landing on her head when she was paddling one day. This memory never leaves her either. I painted another picture of this memory, took many artistic liberties here – but still it is the memory.

I shared this painting with my daughter – still loving the connection the two of us have with dragonflies. I wanted to know her reaction. But, I didn’t expect what I got as she said, “It’s cute!”

If there is something a serious artist never wants to hear is that her work is cute. So, I immediately started to revise the work to make it more serious. Go figure – one little word did it – cute. I am including the two versions of the work, version 1 and version 2 with this musing. I thought you all would like to see them both. Version one obviously doesn’t exist anymore except in a print. But, then I’m not sure I even want to print it. Ha ha – the vanity of a serious artist.

Dragonflies and Daughters

Oh my gosh the dragonflies came out today. So many good memories of dragonflies. I remember when my daughter was still a child - we sat on the beach for a whole day watching them emerge and climb up the boathouse wall.

Emerging Dragonfly by Christine Alfery

Their wings drying in the wind.

The urge to help them along - but leaving them alone.

The colors - the wonderful, wonderful, beautiful colors.

Ever since that day my daughter and I have a special bond with dragonflies - and I have painted many of them. You can see them on my website: www.christinealfery.com.

Dragonflies are filled with hope - and for me love - and new birth. They just make me feel good inside - and they are now 1000's of them flying around in my backyard.

Such a glorious moment - time to pause.