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Dragonfly, Butterfly, and Columbine

As November’s chill settles in and the leaves skitter around outside, I’m bringing a little warmth to the season with a new monthly miniature painting—a composition drawn from memories of summer in the garden.

Sixteen years ago, I transformed our quarter-acre lawn into a terraced garden. It’s become a haven for life— fruit trees, hundreds of flowers, a vegetable patch, dragonflies from nearby Lake Stickney, and a revolving door of pollinators and birds. On any sunny day, it feels like stepping into a living still life.

With such abundance to choose from, selecting elements for this painting was like plucking gems from a tree. I take hundreds of flower photos each season, and my husband and I photograph insects and birds whenever we can. But combining them into a single harmonious composition isn’t always as simple as it sounds.

This painting had been on my mind since May. I sketched dozens of versions—none of them quite right. But as often happens in the creative process, the pieces churned quietly in the background until, months later, everything finally clicked. It’s always a little mysterious—and always a surprise when it happens that way.

in progress still life painting of dragondly butterfly and columbine by Rebecca Luncan

A Conversation with the Past

If you’re a fan of art history, you might see echoes of Jan van Kessel in this piece. His jewel-like insect, shell, and flower studies have long inspired me. There’s even a tiny beetle in my painting copied directly from one of his works. He painted that little fellow more than once, and placing him among my own subjects feels like a quiet conversation across centuries. Art has a beautiful way of collapsing time like that.

The composition may feel like a snapshot of spring, but it’s arriving in November, as I hunker down in my chilly carport-turned-studio, space heater blazing, dreaming of radiant blooms and buzzing wings. One day we’ll get around to insulating the concrete floor. Till then, I have dreams of warmth and one very hot left leg.

As we head into the holidays, I hope this piece brings a little color and warmth your way. May you find joy in small things and inspiration in unexpected places.

Wishing you a cozy Thanksgiving.

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Pears and the Emerald Swallowtail

This month’s monthly miniature marks the welcome return of my pear harvest—and the chance to feature one of my favorite fruits in a painting once again. For years, our tree produced more pears than we knew what to do with, sometimes into the thousands. But after several seasons of low yields, I was thrilled to gather around 200 this fall. It felt like reconnecting with an old friend.

I originally planned to paint a western tiger swallowtail I spotted on a fallen pear in the garden, but as I started working on the composition, I swapped it for an emerald swallowtail. The striking green tones of the emerald suited the palette I had in mind, allowing for a nearly monochromatic background with subtle hits of red and orange. Though the butterfly is native to Southeast Asia, but it’s a popular species in butterfly houses around the world so you may have seen them anywhere you call home.

A Shift in Mood

The creative process behind this piece took an unusual turn for me. I began with a pale cream background—an approach more reminiscent of the sparse still lifes of Jan van Kessel. But halfway through painting, I realized it wasn’t offering the mood I was after. So, I made a rare decision to change direction. I repainted the background dark and added a stone table inspired directly by one of Adriaen Coorte’s compositions. The result is a richer, moodier setting that feels more grounded and contemplative.

This kind of mid-course correction is rare in my practice—because my paintings are so detailed, I typically finalize the composition before I begin painting. But in this case, the shift felt essential.

In progress, Pears and Peacock Swallowtail Butterfly still life fruit oil painting by Rebecca Luncan

From the Studio

Getting this piece finished in time was no small feat. My youngest is starting to walk, we just wrapped up my show at Harris Harvey Gallery, and our home is in full project mode. Life feels full to the brim—but I wouldn’t have it any other way. 💚

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Peter the Brave: A Rabbit Portrait Inspired by Dutch Masterworks

This is Peter.

“He’s a very special boy, he is very gentle and loves people and is missing an ear and back foot from being attacked when he was a baby. I bottle-fed him and raised him for the last nine years. I feel like you are the perfect person to capture my sweet boy.”
Maryel, Peter’s person

Maryel’s words say it all. I thought of him as “Peter the Brave” the entire time I was painting his portrait, and it felt right for the title of the painting to reflect that. Most rabbits wouldn’t survive a trauma like his—rabbits can die just from shock. But Peter did. He’s a gentle spirit with a good strong heart.

A Quiet Tribute in the Dutch Tradition

Peter’s portrait was painted in oil on aluminum, just 4 x 4 inches. The soft, greenish-grey background gently fades into darkness—a quiet, moody space inspired by Dutch Golden Age portraiture. That compositional style, with its dramatic lighting and deep shadows, felt like the right way to honor such a dignified little soul.

Painting rabbits isn’t something I get to do often, though I’m always thrilled when I do. I grew up with rabbits myself, and earlier this year I said goodbye to my own English Spot, Harriet—who, coincidentally, looked a lot like Peter. When a prey animal like a rabbit learns to trust and love you, it’s no small thing. That relationship becomes something rare and deeply meaningful.

A Heartfelt Thank You

Thank you, Maryel, for trusting me with Peter’s portrait. It was a joy to spend time with him through paint, and I hope the finished piece brings you comfort and joy for many years to come.

If you’re interested in commissioning a portrait, I’d love to work with you. Click here to learn more, and feel free to reach out with questions.

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The Cuban Cattlehearts and the Mum

After a nearly yearlong hiatus, I’m thrilled to return to my Monthly Miniature tradition! Not coincidentally, my son just celebrated his first birthday. Over the past year, my limited studio time has been devoted to commissions and preparing a body of work for exhibition at Harris Harvey Gallery (open now — more on that soon).

Even while busy, I’ve deeply missed the Monthly Miniature series. It’s been a creative anchor for me — a way to share new ideas and connect with you. Having that regular rhythm to shape and develop my work is something I’m grateful to have again.

Revisiting an Idea with New Perspective

This month’s miniature, “Cuban Cattlehearts and the Mum,” builds on a painting I created last year, “Common Rose Swallowtail and the Mum” (see below). Though the compositions and subjects are similar, the mood of each piece is quite different.

Following my ongoing study of historical still life painting, I drew inspiration for this work from:

In this piece, I wanted to intentionally explore the effect of background color — trading the darker background for a lighter one. Though it’s a simple shift, this kind of experimentation helps me better understand how mood, meaning, and composition work together in my paintings. Interestingly, having a few elements well defined actually gives me more freedom to respond to all the unexpected decisions that arise while creating.

Looking Ahead

Usually, I have a list of ideas waiting in the wings for the next miniature. Right now, I’m embracing the unknown — taking some quiet moments to reflect on the new work at the gallery and imagine where this journey might lead next.

I hope this post finds you well, and that you enjoy the new painting! Fingers crossed you’ll hear from me again soon. Until then, enjoy the last of the warm weather if you can, and take time to notice the small wonders outdoors.

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Recent Still Life: Exhibition in Seattle

I’m thrilled to share that I will have paintings on view at Harris Harvey Gallery from September 5 – 28, 2024. I’ve been working on getting ready for the show for a while and it’s wonderful to finally see it come together. Please go the gallery website to see what is still available.

Artist Statement about the Paintings on View

I paint objects of intimate familiarity—fruits and florals from my garden, objects handled in my time as a mount maker for Seattle Art Museum—in compositions inspired by the Dutch Golden Age. Much as the Dutch masters would compose seasonal impossibilities, I bring together inspirations separated by time, space and tradition. My work is a reach for a childhood of birds’ nests and frogs, a longing to grasp that wonderment yet reconcile with isolation and loss. It is a meditation on the comings and goings of life, the closeness and distance to kin of all kinds.

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Back in the Studio

After a brief hiatus to welcome our newest family member, I’m thrilled to be painting again. I had optimistically hoped for pockets of studio time during those first three months with Elliot, but between the sleepless nights and an unfinished kitchen remodel, painting just wasn’t in the cards. These days, I paint when the baby nap and I’m reminded how good it feels to be back at the easel.

A Remarkable Discovery

This new piece features the Fiji Papilio swallowtail, a butterfly with a story as striking as its wings. Native to the island of Vanua Levu, this brilliantly patterned butterfly somehow managed to escape scientific recognition until just a few years ago—a fact that still astonishes researchers.

The butterfly was first photographed in 2017 by ornithologist Gregg Kerr, who was in Fiji as an instructor with Operation Wallacea, a foundation that supports student-led scientific expeditions. Though birds were his focus, Kerr noticed and documented a butterfly so unusual that when he shared the images, some experts suspected a hoax.

Naming the Natewa Swallowtail

The mystery caught the attention of the Swallowtail and Birdwing Butterfly Trust, which dispatched entomologists John Tennent and Richard Markham to investigate. Their fieldwork led to the formal identification and classification of the new species, which they named the Natewa Swallowtail.

Though Tennent has described over 100 new species and subspecies of butterflies in his career, he called this one “easily the most spectacular.” As he put it, “For such an unusual and large new butterfly to be discovered somewhere we thought was so well known is remarkable.”

Fiji Papilio swallowtail still life painting with plums and raspberries by Rebecca Luncan

Painting the Wonder

It’s always a privilege to paint something with such natural beauty—and even more so when its backstory is filled with wonder. This swallowtail is a reminder of how there are still remarkable discoveries to be made, waiting just off the path.

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Bichon Portrait Painting: The Beloved Sami

Sami the Beloved Bichon, oil on aluminum, 8″ x 8″

All of my pet portraits are special, but this Bichon portrait painting reminded me why I always keep room in my schedule for them. Even with just a few words—or brushstrokes—our love for our animals shines through.

A Joyful Beginning and a Sudden Goodbye

When Kelly first reached out, her enthusiasm for her Bichon Frisé, Sami, was absolutely infectious. I could feel her joy radiating from her email—it was like someone smiling at me through the screen. I instantly knew how deeply she loved Sami and felt honored to be entrusted with her portrait.

Sadly, before the painting was completed, Sami passed away unexpectedly at just seven years old. It was heartbreaking. What began as a joyful commission quickly transformed into a memorial portrait. Our cats, dogs, rabbits—they simply don’t live long enough, and when we lose them too soon, the grief cuts even deeper.

Honoring Sami’s Spirit

It was a privilege to help Kelly honor Sami’s memory in this way. Each brushstroke became a quiet act of remembrance. I wanted to capture not only her likeness, but also the joy and magic that Kelly so clearly saw in her.

“She was truly magic on earth and we miss her every day. Your incredible talent poured into her portrait will be a visual reminder of that bond we shared…”
—Kelly

A Legacy of Love

Kelly has since welcomed a new pup into her life, a doodle named Fi, who never met her big sister Sami—but through this portrait, Sami remains part of their home and hearts.

Bichon portrait painting by Rebecca Luncan

“Our older siblings often leave huge shoes for us to fill. 🐶🐶
@adoodlenamedfi never met her precious older sister Sami, but with the help of the incredible work of @rebeccaluncan, she will never be far from our hearts 🖤”


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Emperor of India, Painting of a Butterfly

Emperor of India

When I started my monthly miniature Swallowtail series, I warned you that they come in many sizes and shapes, but this one is quite exceptional. The Teinopalpus imperialis is a rare species which can be found fluttering in patches across the Himalayas, through Nepal and north India all the way east to north Vietnam. That’s far from home for me, but part of the fun of this series is to use all of the many tools available to me to stretch my imagination across the globe, even if visiting the Himalayas physically is impossible for me right now.

My Emperor of India is portrayed as more of a natural history specimen than as a creature that just settled down for a nibble or a rest. He is also displayed in verso, with his tummy face up (see his little feet?) so that the most vibrant coloration of his wings are in full view. I went for a full-on manuscript-inspired composition with the addition of a golden arch around this butterfly. My inspiration was Joris Hoefnagel, one of the early pioneers in still life paintings and the study of insects. It’s easy to see how still life paintings caught on with such fervor when viewing his iconic masterpieces created in the 1500’s. 

I love how my monthly miniature series gives me so much freedom to experiment while staying within the boundaries of just a few simple ideas. Within the concept of “swallowtail butterflies,” I experiment with compositional ideas within the same general theme and format. Looking back over all the paintings I completed over the year, I get ideas and inspiration for the next series of paintings. I also get ideas for works I exhibit in galleries. 

On a personal note…

Hope you’re doing well and I please wish me luck for the next couple of weeks! Baby is due in a week and we don’t have anything ready! We almost have a countertop in the kitchen so fingers crossed it’s not still a complete madhouse when the baby gets here. As you can imagine, I’m exhausted! I have a set up to put my feet up while I’m painting, which means studio-time is also “resting-time”. I’ve thankfully been able to get a little painting done and I’m saving most of the the kitchen construction for my wonderful husband, friends and family.

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Forget Me Not: Honoring Still Life Traditions in a Miniature

Forget Me Not, oil on copper, 4.5″ x 5.5″, is the newest addition to my Swallowtail Series—a body of miniature still life paintings inspired by centuries of natural observation and artistic devotion.

This piece is an homage to two 17th-century painters I admire deeply: Jan van Kessel the Elder and Margaretha de Heer. Though I’ve long been a fan of van Kessel’s work, I only recently discovered de Heer. This painting is a celebration of their shared legacy—and a reflection on the way artists learn through looking, studying, and paying tribute.

Two Artists, One Era: Shared Roots in Still Life

Jan van Kessel and Margaretha de Heer were born roughly 20 years apart and just a few hundred miles from each other—van Kessel in Antwerp, Belgium, and de Heer in Friesland, in what is now the Netherlands. Both were born into artist families, and both became known for their vivid depictions of the natural world.

While each created genre scenes and other subjects, it’s their still life work that has most captivated me. Their paintings, often categorized as nature studies, depict insects, flowers, fruits, and other organic forms with striking clarity.

Stylistic Differences: Density vs. Balance

Van Kessel’s work bursts with detail—his compositions packed edge-to-edge with butterflies, beetles, shells, and blossoms. The perspective often shifts, with elements floating freely or perched on undefined surfaces. You get the sense that couldn’t bear to leave any space unused. There’s a beauty in the chaos, and despite the density, his compositions achieve a remarkable balance. The irregular perspectives feel surprisingly contemporary, not disruptive—just part of the visual rhythm.

De Heer’s paintings, while similar in subject matter, evoke a different tone. Her compositions are more spacious and deliberate. She embraces negative space, organizing her elements with a grounded sense of perspective and a graceful visual flow. Her approach feels more lyrical than scientific—a quiet reflection on the beauty of nature rather than a full catalogue of it.

The Butterfly: A Marvel from Central Africa

The butterfly in Forget Me Not is a Blue-banded Swallowtail (Papilio nireus), a striking species native to central and southern Africa. With velvet-black wings and bold, iridescent blue bands, this butterfly commands attention. Though it lacks the tail streamers typical of many swallowtails, it does belong to the Papilionidae (often refered to as Swallowtail) family and is admired for its swift flight and elegance.

in progress Forget Me Not miniature painting, still life representational oil painting with butterfly, grasshopper and bee by Rebecca Luncan

Finding My Place in the Tradition

One of the great joys of working in the still life tradition is learning from the artists who came before me. By studying and incorporating their approaches, I find new ways to think about composition, subject matter, and symbolism. Forget Me Not is undeniably informed by van Kessel and de Heer, but it’s also undeniably mine. It’s a meditation on legacy, observation, and the quiet power of paying attention.