Featured Artist: Misty Benson

I’ve stumbled upon some gorgeous birth art, and the artist, Misty Benson, has been kind enough to share. Here are my three absolute favorites:


“Secret of the Butterfly”
24″x32″ Acrylic on Unstretched Cotton Canvas Sheet.

Misty writes:

    There is a Native American legend that says, “If you have a secret wish, capture a butterfly and whisper your wish to it. Since butterflies cannot speak, your secret is ever safe in their keeping. Release the butterfly, and it will carry your wish to the Great Spirit, who alone knows the thoughts of butterflies.” In Celtic beliefs, a woman wishing to get pregnant would swallow a butterfly soul. Whether you are wishing for a pregnancy or you have already swallowed the butterfly, it is no secret that a new life in the belly often feels like the fluttering of wings. Along with the butterflies, there are several symbols present in the painting. The gem suspended from the mother’s neck is the moonstone. Radiant with the light of the moon, it symbolizes rebirth, new beginnings, and wishing. Believed to benefit pregnancy, it is a feeling stone that helps aid in the changing cycles of our lives, bringing balance to our emotions and aiding us in calm reflection. The yellow of the mother’s blouse represents joy (as do butterflies), happiness, hope, and the dawn of a new day.


“Born of Water”
8″x10″ Acrylic on Unstretched Cotton Canvas Sheet.


“As Above, So Below”
12″x16″ Acrylic on Unstretched Cotton Canvas Sheet.

Misty lives and works in Boulder, CO, where she coaxes faery essence into this realm through her work with acrylic paint and canvas. She draws her inspiration from a deep well of faery lore, fantasy art, and cultural celebration. Misty has never followed the traditional path of an artist. She never drew as a child nor pursued art courses in high school. Although she attended college to become a veterinarian, she switched majors and went on to earn degrees in the Fine Arts and Cultural Anthropology. She writes about pregnancy and birth: My sister was born when I was 12, and I spent a lot of time helping to raise her. I honestly feel like I have already had a child! I love the pregnant form. I always encourage my friends on LJ to take lots of pictures while they are pregnant because they are so beautiful. I tell them not to simply take a sideview of their belly and call it a day. I encourage them to take full body shots and ham it up a bit. I tell them they won’t ever regret documenting this part of their lives! I just find pregnant women to be so beautiful and inspiring. The wondrous looks on their faces are looks that you don’t see on anyone but a pregnant woman. They are challenging to capture, but I enjoy it.

If you’re interested in seeing more of her work, you can visit her website, Gossamerfaery’s Attic, or buy prints through her ebay offerings. Enjoy, and thank you, Misty!

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