Butterflies in the Sky (Original Acrylic Painting by Kim Testone)

"Butterflies in the Sky," acrylic on panel, 24" x 24. Professionally framed in a contemporary white floater frame. Based on a real-life sugar cookie and frosting model that I baked and decorated and then replicated with acrylic paint in the trompe l'oeil style. This means that the painting is virtually flat, but it is painted in a way that looks amazingly three-dimensional and highly realistic in its details. 

"Butterflies in the Sky" features three Monarch butterfly cookies, seemingly flying out of a field of swoops of green frosting grass and decorated purple cookie flowers (inspired by the Monarch butterfly-friendly New England Aster flower), into a swirling blue frosting sky. The design balances the whimsical nature of the scene and the use of cookies, frosting and decorations with the three-dimensional illusion of the trompe l'oeil painting style and a subtle narrative of hope. Monarch butterflies are recognized as a symbol of transformation, strength and resilience, and I wanted this piece to stand as a source of inspiration for people from a wide range of backgrounds who could connect with something in the piece. Using cookies and frosting as the base design elements allows an easier entry point for viewers to enjoy and thoughtfully consider the work, even children. 

Be sure to check out these TiKTok videos to see the painting process for "Butterflies in the Sky" and enjoy a close-up view:
- Close-up view of "Butterflies in the Sky"
- Painting process for "Butterflies in the Sky"
- Side views of some of my trompe l'oeil cookie landscape paintings.

Questions? Please feel free to contact us here. 

Prints of this piece are available here.