Through an Artist’s Eyes —

When people learn that I spent more than a decade as a professional handweaver before becoming a botanical and natural science illustrator, they often ask what inspired such a dramatic career change.

The truth is, it wasn’t as dramatic as it seemed.

On my very first trip to Costa Rica in 1990, I was walking along a rainforest trail when a brilliant flash of electric blue caught my eye. It darted through the forest, swooping high into the canopy before suddenly dropping toward the ground. I instinctively ran after it—not to catch it, but simply to see it again.

It was a Blue Morpho butterfly. I was captivated.

Blue Morphos are among the largest butterflies in the rainforest, and their erratic flight pattern is one of their best defenses against predators. Their shimmering blue wings appear and disappear as they fly, making them almost magical to watch.

In that moment, I realized that my love of weaving and my growing fascination with nature were connected. As a child, I collected insects and was endlessly fascinated by their colors, textures, and intricate patterns. Those same elements had inspired my handwoven textiles for years. Costa Rica simply revealed a new canvas for my creativity.

Since that first encounter, I’ve painted Blue Morphos many times and continue to see them every year in Costa Rica. One of my favorite places to visit is Pierella Ecological Garden, where I have learned about butterfly life cycles, host plants, and the incredible relationships between insects and their environment.

That single butterfly set me on a path I never could have imagined. It inspired a collection of more than 30 butterfly life cycle and host plant paintings, which were exhibited at the Florida Museum of Natural History and earned a Silver Medal from the Royal Horticultural Society.

Looking back, it’s amazing to think that one brief encounter in the rainforest changed the direction of my life.

It makes me wonder…

What might one butterfly inspire in you?

Cheers!

Mindy Lighthipe