Butterflies have always been one of my favorite excuses to get lost in detail, and the Blue Cracker might be one of the most intricate metal butterfly sculptures I've made yet. I created this stainless steel butterfly for a dear friend's garden, designing the hanger so it could perch two ways: mounted on a wall indoors or slid onto a garden stake to live outside among the flowers.

What made this piece unique (and fun) was pushing my detail grinding skills. I started by coloring the entire surface with the hottest torch tone, blue. Then, with my pencil grinder, I carefully removed everything but the parts that would remain blue, like peeling back layers to reveal a pattern. From there I worked down the spectrum: purple, gold, and finally the natural silver of stainless steel. Each step was another chance to refine the mosaic-like markings that make the Blue Cracker so mesmerizing.

The result was a butterfly with wings that felt almost alive, shimmering and patterned in ways that shifted as the light changed. It was delicate in spirit but permanent in form.

This Blue Cracker butterfly sculpture is wall hanging or able to be mounted on a garden stake, made entirely of stainless steel, colored using only heat patinas, and is safe to be kept outdoors!