'Cousin Mark's Butterfly,' a tabletop sculpture

Butterflies have long been considered a symbol of transformation, endurance, hope, and life.  The symbolism associated with butterflies made working on this piece a joy.

Cousin Mark wanted a tabletop butterfly sculpture for his wife who adores butterflies.  Aside from those parameters, I was given carte blanche when designing the piece.  

Plain and simple, if I can’t picture a piece, I can’t make it.  In my mind’s eye for this project, however, I immediately saw the butterfly I wanted to make.  It was merely a matter of execution at that point.  

The rose quartz rock on which the butterfly alights came from a friend’s beloved hunting lease on Sandy Creek in Llano County, TX.  The appearance of this gorgeous rock on my studio table was fortuitous, providing the perfect base for the butterfly sculpture.  

The rock showed up, however, long before I began work on Mark's sculpture.  Can anyone tell me why I kept referring to it as ‘butterfly quartz,’ only recently learning that I had made that name up (...or had I?...). 

​Many thanks to Rafael at Renaissance Stone Works in Spicewood, TX, for drilling the hole in the quartz.  

I forged the steel elements using art dies on my Little Giant power hammer, then MIG welded the elements together.  My touchmark can be seen on the lower left wing.    

Mark and I kept the project a secret, and the sculpture was delivered in time as a Valentine’s Day surprise to his wife.

Forged and welded steel, rose quartz.  About 20” tall, 12” wide, and 10” deep.  ​