Sometimes a painting begins with a story or an idea I’ve been carrying around for weeks. Other times, it’s simply about playing with shapes, colours, and textures until something clicks. Temptation belongs in the latter camp – a piece that came together through process rather than planning.
The canvas itself had a previous life: an old print picked up second-hand and given a fresh start – which is how I like to work.
I started with the silhouette of a cat – still, poised, watching. From there, I built up the background, letting striking colours suggest sky and distance beyond the window. The final touch was the butterflies. These weren’t painted, but collaged from the pages of a well-worn butterfly book I found tucked away on another charity shop wander. Each delicate cut-out was placed into the scene, floating in that imagined air outside the glass.
A final varnish sealed it all together, giving the piece a quiet sheen and bringing the cat’s gaze into sharper focus.
I’ve included some behind-the-scenes photos, so you can see how Temptation came together – from blank silhouette, through layers of paint, to those final butterfly additions. For me, it’s always fascinating how a painting shifts and takes shape step by step, and I hope you enjoy that glimpse into the process too.
